High school coach acquitted on molestation charges

<p>A high school football coach accused of sexual misconduct with two students at his school was acquitted of molestation charges Thursday.</p><p>McNair High School football coach Johnny Gilbert was exonerated of an accusation from two underage students, a male and a female, that he ordered them to have sex while he watched.</p><p>Gilbert, 35, did not testify. Defense lawyer Keith Adams told the Superior Court jury that there were far too many discrepancies in the students' stories.</p><p>On Tuesday, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Mark Scott dismissed three of the charges against Gilbert. All six original charges against Gilbert stemmed from the claims of a boy and girl, both now 15, who said Gilbert confronted them behind the school the night of Jan. 31.</p><p>Also dropped was one charge of enticing a minor for indecent purposes.</p><p>After the verdict was read, Gilbert smiled and shook hands with his team of defense lawyers. Gilbert's wife wept openly in court.</p><p>The coach was reassigned to an administrative office after being charged in February. It was not immediately clear whether he'd return to coaching.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1d09a0c)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/8/141640