Poison drummer Rikki Rockett has reportedly been exonerated of a felony rape charge dating back to September 2007 - because he wasn't in Mississippi when the incident is alleged to have taken place in the state.

The 46-year-old - real name Richard Allan Ream - was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Neshoba County, Mississippi.

But the charge was dropped this week, after the Neshoba County District Attorney decided he did not believe Rockett had committed the crime.

And, in a post on social networking site MySpace.com, the star claims he had been the victim of an identity mix-up, courtesy of an imposter and "career criminal" called John Minskoff.

Rockett writes: "I want to sincerely thank my lawyers Barry Tarlow and Mi Kim for their commitment to my case and their terrific legal work that exonerated me of any wrongdoing.

"I remain surprised that no member of the educated and savvy press ever Googled the name 'John Minskoff'! Had they done so, they would have found out that in 1996, John Minskoff claimed to have been involved with the rock band, Whitesnake, when he lured and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl in Reno, Nevada. Minskoff is a violent career criminal and felon and convicted perjurer with multiple convictions, who has admitted to impersonating "rock stars" to sexually pursue women."

Rockett is relieved to be rid of the legal woe and is now looking forward to planning a Poison tour and his forthcoming nuptials to his longterm girlfriend.

He adds, "It's nice to feel like I can have my life back now. I have a Poison tour to look forward to as well as a wedding to prepare for."

- Poison Gallery

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)