For the first time since his arrest, a former Tacoma middle school principal talks candidly about allegations of rape and his struggle to clear his name.

Harold Wright Jr. was convicted of rape but it was later overturned. He said his reputation, career and his future all hinge on clearing his name.

In 2007, the 38-year-old Wright was the principal of Baker Middle School in Tacoma when he was accused of second-degree rape involving a 19-year-old woman.

KIRO 7 reporter Kevin McCarty asked Wright, “You did not commit rape?”

“I didn't commit rape, sir,” Wright said.

Wright lost his job as an educator and was put on trial.

Prosecutors used Wright's DNA found on the alleged victim's breast as evidence against him.

McCarty: “How did your DNA get on her body?”

Wright: “When we arrived at the residence she immediately took her shirt off, began dancing around. I pushed her off me a number of times; I suppose that's exactly how it got on it.”

WATCH IT: Former Principal Wants To Prove His Innocence

Despite claims of innocence, Wright and co-defendant Richy Carter were both convicted, but of a lesser charge of third-degree rape.

“I mean I just was stunned because I believe in the system and the system is that if a person didn't do anything they shouldn't be convicted,” Wright said.

Months later an appeals court threw out the conviction saying the judge should never have allowed the jury to consider third-degree rape as an option.

Wright said his second chance hasn’t been easy.

“It's led me to having a heart attack, it's deteriorated my health, its impacted my family. It's hurtful,” Wright said.

Wright's courtroom battles aren't over. The Pierce County prosecutor's office has asked the state Supreme Court to reinstate his conviction.

In the meantime, Wright a $15 million claim against Pierce County, alleging wrongful investigation and prosecution.

McCarty: “Is it because you're black? Is it because you're an educator?”

“I think all of the above could be a part of this, could be the reasons why, but I know if the sheriff's department and the Pierce County prosecutor's office would have done their job I would have been immediately cleared,” Wright said.

Pierce County prosecuting attorney Mark Lindquist said, “We filed the case against Harold Wright because the evidence showed he committed rape -- the jury agreed.”

He said the appeals court didn't reverse Wright's conviction based on insufficiency of evidence, but because of jury instructions by the judge.

"I have reviewed the case and I am absolutely confident our office acted properly and I am confident anyone who reviews this case will agree," Lindquist said.

Wright and his attorney have scheduled a news conference for Thursday to publicly discuss their lawsuit.