A Homewood man who was exonerated after spending 19 years in prison for a rape conviction, was arrested yesterday and charged with simple assault.

Thomas Doswell, 47, who was freed in August after DNA testing cleared him of the 1986 crime, was arraigned yesterday around noon. His bond was set at $3,000. He posted bail sometime after 3 p.m. Mr. Doswell and his attorney could not be reached, and no other information was available last night.