Here's a case in point that's close to home. In the Constable Patton case:

Lawyer: Testimony clears client of charges

Even Chris Cawood didn't say that. he said the charges should be dismissed beause of the state laws against self incriminatioin. It should say something like, "Sure he's probably guilty of felonies but you can't prosecute him because he as much as admitted it in court." I call that different from being "cleared" which has false implications of innocence.