GONZALES, LA (WAFB) -
Former LSU standout Charles Scott was found not guilty of sexual battery.
Friends and relatives of Scott could hardly contain their excitement as they left court Wednesday evening. Scott and his attorneys, Andre Gauthier and Jody Amedee, were not far behind.
"I'm just ready to move on with my life and get on with my career," Scott said.
The former LSU running back did not take the stand and sat silently for most of the trial.
Gauthier, his lead attorney, challenged the testimony of nearly a dozen people including Brooke Leary, who told the court Scott got her drunk and raped her in November of 2011.
Leary testified that she was allowed into Bogie's bar in Baton Rouge because she was accompanied by Scott. She said the bar allowed him to mix and serve her drinks all night. She added that she was drunk when she left the bar with a male friend and Scott.
Prosecutors argued that Leary was having consensual sex with a mutual friend on the evening of the attack, and when the friend left briefly to use the bathroom, Scott entered the room and started having sex with her, and that he only stopped after she begged him to several times.
While the lead detective in the case testified Scott lied about who he was with on the night of the alleged incident, and that he denied knowing Leary, Judge Jessie Leblanc said she could not find Scott guilty of sexual battery because the state's case had too many inconsistencies including statements witnesses gave to detectives.
"He's been living this nightmare and burden it is off of his shoulders. The facts have been presented. He's been declared innocent and the man is now relieved he can move on with his life," Gauthier said.
Leary's mother, Myra Foret, who also took the stand in the case, said she believes Scott is far from innocent.
"He hurt my daughter. He hurt her, and I promised him that I was going to hold him accountable, and he'll be held accountable," Foret said.
District Attorney Ricky Babin said he is disappointed with the verdict but also for Leary.
"One of the most difficult things to do is send her away but that's the system and I respect it and I live in it so we'll move on," Babin said.
Foret said she plans to file a civil suit against Scott but did not say on what basis.
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