Wednesday, October 30, 2002

Fayette man acquitted of molesting daughter By JOHN MUNFORD jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com A Fayette man accused of molesting his daughter on several occasions when she visited him here was found not guilty by a jury Tuesday. Phillip Edward Higginbotham, 48, was found not guilty of two counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated sexual battery. Higginbotham maintained his innocence after his daughter testified about the incidents taking place in his bedroom on several occasions at his Fayetteville home when she visited him from Texas, where she lived with her mother. "The last time I probably saw her naked she was probably 7 and in her bath tub," Higginbotham said. The allegations came to light after the victim told a friend at camp about the incident. The friend told camp authorities, who contacted Texas child protective services to report the matter. The victim, who is now 15, testified that she didn't originally come forward "Because I didn't think anybody would believe me." She said when the incidents occurred, she would tell him to stop and try to push him away. "He told me, 'You can't tell anybody,'" the girl said. Her father testified that they had a loving relationship. He also recalled her visits here. "If it was just for a short visit, it was shop 'til you drop," Phillip Higginbotham said. "... It became a routine to go get her fingernails done."   What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor. Back to the News Home Page| Back to the top of the page