Oklahoma appeals court denies former cop Daniel Holtzclaw's appeal

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) -- The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has issued their opinion in the appeal from a former Oklahoma City police officer convicted for rape and other sexual assaults.

32-year-old Daniel Holtzclaw was appealing his 18 convictions and 263-year prison sentence.

On Thursday, the court ruled that Holtzclaw's appeal was denied.

The case grabbed national headlines after 13 Oklahoma City women accused Holtzclaw of sexual attacks while on duty for the police department.

In August 2014, the state charged Holtzclaw with 36 felony counts of rape, sexual battery, indecent exposure and forcible oral sodomy after the 13 women came forward, claiming the officer assaulted them while they were in custody or inside his police car.

In all, the jury heard 13 accusers' stories of assault.

Throughout the trial, state prosecutors talked about skin cells found inside and outside Holtzclaw's pants, around the zipper area.

As detectives spoke with various accusers in their investigation, they explained to the jury that they took DNA samples, trying to find a match to those skin cells.

Prosecutors say that match ultimately came from a then 17-year-old girl, who testified she was raped by the former officer outside her mother's home.

Forensic analysts discussed how there was more DNA found near the zipper as well, but not enough to find a second full match.