Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 2 starts off on a positive note. Shawn Roberts, who was wrongfully convicted of rape 16 years ago, has been exonerated due to checking a rape kit that was backlogged. Shawn happily goes off to celebrate with the woman who accused him and her daughter, Ashley. Later that night, SVU is called to the home when Ashley is found to have been brutally raped and set on fire. Her mother, who falsely accused Shawn before, claims she heard his voice.

Ashley dies of her injuries while SVU investigates. Fin is in a tough spot because he made the original arrest so it doesn't look good for him to be too involved. Rollins is asked to lead the case.

The investigation brings the team to a kid named Charlie who appears to have some sort of intellectual disability. Charlie is close to confessing when his girlfriend shows up with a video of them having sex at the time of the rape. Charlie claims to have seen the rapist. He asks if Rollins will like him if he IDs Shawn. Rollins tells him to tell the truth and he does ID Shawn.

Shawn is served a search warrant. Fin finds Ashley's ring in the sink and Shawn is arrested. He claims Fin has a vendetta against him.

During trial, Shawn's lawyer makes it look like Charlie lied to impress Rollins and that she encouraged him to do so and tries to make it look like Fin planted evidence because he held a grudge. Meanwhile, Melanie doesn't want to testify because she's afraid to ruin Shawn's life again if she's wrong.

On the stand Barba treats Melanie as a hostile witness and suggests she blames herself for Ashley's death because she knows Shawn is guilty.

To find out what happens, watch Law & Order: SVU Season 18 Episode 2 online.