After a trial that included testimony from both the defendant and his accuser, a man has been found not guilty of sex crime charges. The allegations in the case involved the sexual abuse of a minor girl. The man was accused of abusing her in 2005 and 2006 and also in 2009. As he has been found not guilty, he will not face any sentencing.
According to reports, testimony on the part of the defense differed greatly from testimony presented by the prosecution. The girl in question claimed that the defendant entered her room at night to “check her television,” and that he then sexually abused her. The man claimed this wasn’t the case and he also denied a number of other accusations.
The man’s daughter also testified, noting that she lived at the home at least some of the time period in question. She said she had no reason to suspect abuse was present in the home. According to reports, the prosecution tried to point to the daughter’s lack of a concrete memory about exactly when she lived at the home.
Other witnesses provided character testimony on behalf of the defendant, stating he was reliable and trustworthy. In the end, it came down to a jury decision on the matter, and the jury decided that the man was not guilty. He is obviously relieved, as a sentence would probably have been for the rest of his life because he is over 60 years old.
One thing that stands out in the reporting on this case from a defense standpoint is that the prosecution tried to use the daughter’s memory against the defendant. Understanding how all testimony might look on a witness stand is critical to building a solid defense and is one reason it’s a good idea to seek help from a legal professional.
Source: WDTV, “Mark Gorby Found Not Guilty in Sexual Abuse Case,” July 05, 2016
