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Garwood Innocentof SexJACKSONVILLE, N.C. (APi-A jury of eight men and four women today found former Marine Pfc Robert Garwood innocent on all counts of sexually molesting a 7-year-old girlThe jury returned its verdict at 9:07 a.m. CDT, after 35 minutes of of deliberation.The jury began its deliberations at 9.32 a m after being sequestered for the night. They deliberated for two hours Friday before announcing they were a long way from a decision.Garwood, 35, was charged with first-degree sex offense, attempted rape, attempted first-degree sex offense and taking indecent liberties with a child in connection with an alleged attack on the girl last summer Conviction for first-degree sex offense carries a mandatory life sentence//A prosecutor maintained in closing arguments Friday that the defense failed in its attempt to show that Garwood was away from Jacksonville at the time of the alleged molestation.Garwood gained national attention in February when he became the first American convicted of collaborating with theenemv in Vietnam A military* vjury sentenced the former prisoner of war to a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of all pay from the date of conviction, but he is on leave pending appeal.He was charged with sexually molesting an Onslow County child after taking her out for an ice cream cone Aug 7. The girl, now H years old. testified earlier this week that Garwood drove her to a deserted road where he fondled her. forced her to fondle him.tried to rape her and attempted to make her have oral sex with him.Defense attorneys rested their case Friday in the week-long trial after calling 13 witnesses. Garwood's lawyers said their client could not have molested the child on the evening of Aug 7 because he was on his way to Charlottesville, Va to meet a psychiatrist.Defense attorneys said the child's parents, Michael and Dorothy Gallen. were probably the biggest problem in this case. Taylor pointed to testimony by Mrs. Gallen in which she admittedwshe often calls her children profanenamesProsecutor William Andrews, in his closing statement, accused defense lawyers of assassinating the character of the Gallen family.”*Andrews also struck out at testimony✓nilCharRobertGarwoodby Donna Long, a w idow who said she plans to marry Garwood She testified she saw Garwood leave her home on his motorcycle for Charlottesville on the evening of Aug. 7 Donna Long has latched onto a celebrity here, and she’s holding on tight. She’s going to do anything she can to protect that celebrity,” Andrews said
Newspaper Details
Janesville Gazette
Janesville, Wisconsin, US
Sat, May 16, 1981
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 15 Jun 2021
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