A Bulloch County jury found a Clito man not guilty of child molestation charges Thursday.
Stephen Hansel Dyches, 38, Buck Creek Road, was exonerated of charges of child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, statutory rape, and incest after the jury ruled he was not guilty, said Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Scott Brannen.
Dyches was arrested last May after being accused of molesting a teenage relative in her Buck Creek Road home.
The trial lasted three days, Brannen said.
"I'm extremely shocked, " he said about the verdict. Law enforcement had what he felt was strong evidence and investigators "did an outstanding job."
However, after listening to three days of testimony from the victim and others, as well as reviewing evidence, the jury reached a "not guilty verdict," he said. "The jury spoke and I respect that."
Last May, Bulloch County Sheriff's Inv. Bill Black said Dyches was accused of ongoing sexual assault against a teenage girl to whom he is related. The girl told a relative the incidents had been occurring over the past four years, and the relative then reported the allegations to the sheriff's department.
Evidence collected led Black to arrest Dyches at his work place and he was taken to jail, held without bond, according to jail reports.
After the jury declared him not guilty of the charges, Dyches was released from custody Thursday, according to Bulloch County Jail records.
Dyches was not immediately available for comment Friday.
Stephen Hansel Dyches, 38, Buck Creek Road, was exonerated of charges of child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, statutory rape, and incest after the jury ruled he was not guilty, said Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Scott Brannen.
Dyches was arrested last May after being accused of molesting a teenage relative in her Buck Creek Road home.
The trial lasted three days, Brannen said.
"I'm extremely shocked, " he said about the verdict. Law enforcement had what he felt was strong evidence and investigators "did an outstanding job."
However, after listening to three days of testimony from the victim and others, as well as reviewing evidence, the jury reached a "not guilty verdict," he said. "The jury spoke and I respect that."
Last May, Bulloch County Sheriff's Inv. Bill Black said Dyches was accused of ongoing sexual assault against a teenage girl to whom he is related. The girl told a relative the incidents had been occurring over the past four years, and the relative then reported the allegations to the sheriff's department.
Evidence collected led Black to arrest Dyches at his work place and he was taken to jail, held without bond, according to jail reports.
After the jury declared him not guilty of the charges, Dyches was released from custody Thursday, according to Bulloch County Jail records.
Dyches was not immediately available for comment Friday.