Ex-officer acquitted of molesting women
CARSON CITY -- A former Carson City probation officer has been found not guilty of three charges stemming from allegations that he molested six women in the course of his duties.
After three days of deliberations, a jury deadlocked on 19 other counts against Aaron Lewis, including misconduct by a public officer, open or gross lewdness, and coercion with physical force, the Nevada Appeal reported.
The Nevada attorney general's office did not indicate Friday whether it would seek a retrial on those charges.
Lewis, 36, was charged with using his position and the threat of jail to get women to undress and to inappropriately touch them.
The alleged incidents occurred between November 2009 and September 2010 while he worked for the Carson City Department of Alternative Sentencing, which monitors people on probation or out on bail for the court.
The six young women claimed the incidents occurred at their homes, the courthouse or his official vehicle. Most of the women were being supervised for drug convictions.
Family and friends of Lewis hugged each other after the verdict was read.
"We knew all along that he was innocent," said his mother, Marcia Lewis.
Lewis himself declined to comment on the advice of his attorney, Larry Digesti, who maintained the women were motivated by financial reasons and by their dislike of his client.
