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Last Wednesday, after 16 months behind bars, a jubilant Geter was set free to applause from a crowd of supporters. Later he celebrated at a Christmas party attended by lawyers, investigators and fellow engineers. His ordeal may not be over, though. He is out on a $10,000 bond put up by E-Systems coworkers. For the charges to be completely dropped, he must pass a lie-detector test. "If he fails the test," says D.A. Wade, "he will have a new trial." And two top prosecutors in Wade's office have been assigned to the case. But Geter is too relieved to worry yet about losing again in court. Said he: "This is my emancipation proclamation from the judicial system of Texas."
—By Anastasia Toufexis. Reported by Thomas McCarroll/New York and Mark Seal/Dallas