Wednesday, March 27, 2002
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Wednesday, March 27, 2002 |
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Molest defendant found innocent after flashing jury By JOHN MUNFORD
A 20-year-old man has been found not guilty of molesting his then 12-year-old male cousin at his uncle's home in Peachtree City. At the end of the trial Monday, Shawn Christopher Dean displayed his private parts to the jury to disprove the victim's account that he had freckles. After deliberating Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on one count of child molestation. Superior Court Judge Paschal English declared a mistrial on two counts of aggravated child molestation since the jury was unable to agree on a verdict. That means Dean could be retried on those charges. Dean's attorney, Jackie G. Patterson, characterized the victim's allegations as an attempt by Dean's uncle to "get back" at his sister, who is also Dean's mother. Dean's mother accused her brother of molesting her when they were younger during her testimony. Dean "is a pawn on behalf of a family that is ... totally dysfunctional," Patterson said in closing arguments. Patterson alleged that the allegations were concocted so Dean's uncle could hurt his sister, who is also Dean's mother. Assistant District Attorney Jamie Inagawa told the jury it only needed to believe the testimony of the victim to return a guilty verdict. He added that inconsistencies in the statements of young victims indicate the victim wasn't coached. "Why would he tell a (police) officer, two counselors, his mom and his stepdad?" Inagawa asked. "Children are not always able to remember the details." Dean's uncle testified that the victim, his stepson, told him of the alleged molestation. The uncle, James Dean, explained that he offered for Shawn Dean to stay at his home since the youth had nowhere else to stay at the time. "I didn't want to believe it," the uncle said, explaining why police weren't contacted right away.
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