The former police officer who was convicted of plotting to kidnap, kill and eat women whose personal information he accessed on a law enforcement database may be free soon. A federal judge ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to support Gilberto Valle's conviction.

The NY Times reports, "The judge, Paul G. Gardephe of Federal District Court in Manhattan, granted the former officer, Gilberto Valle, a verdict of acquittal on the most serious count that he faced, kidnapping conspiracy. He could have faced life in prison on that count. 'The evidentiary record is such that it is more likely than not the case that all of Valle's Internet communications about kidnapping are fantasy role-play,' Judge Gardephe said in a 118-page opinion issued late Monday night."

Valle was arrested in 2012, when the FBI discovered he was plotting with other men to kidnap women and eat them—but not before making them suffer. Here is an excerpt from Valle's online communication with a co-conspirator (at one point he asks, "How big is your oven?"):

"I was thinking of tying her body onto some kind of apparatus&cook her over a low heat, keep her alive as long as possible." "I love that she is asleep right now not having the slightest clue of what we have planned. Her days are numbered. I'm glad you're on board. She does look tasty doesn't she?"

However, his lawyers characterized it as thought crime, with the First Amendment giving him "the right to fantasize about whatever and whomever they like, free from government interference," in spite of Google searches for "human meat recipes." Well, as Valle's OKCupid's profile stated, "I'll try anything and am not picky."

Valle was turned in by his wife, who discovered a "tactical plan" for "Abducting and Cooking" women on the home computer. Of one victim, Valle allegedly fantasized, "It is going to be so hard to restrain myself when I knock her out, but I am aspiring to be a professional kidnapper and that's business. But I will really get off on knocking her out, tying her hands and bare feet and gagging her...I think I would rather not get involved in the rape. You paid for her. She is all yours and I don't want to be tempted the next time I abduct a girl."

The Post explains, "Valle will likely have the major charge of conspiracy overturned and the sentence vacated with only a misdemeanor charge of using police computers to track down women, The Post has learned. The misdemeanor charge would leave Valle with only up to a year in jail — which he has already served."

While in prison, Valle has been a cook.