LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Donald Switzer was found not guilty of all charges by a jury Thursday afternoon. Switzer had faced a misdemeanor count of sexual abuse and harassment with physical contact.
Immediately after the verdict was announced, Switzer told reporters he was, "Just praying for the right outcome to come about. I have very strong Christian faith, and ever since the beginning of this, you know, I trusted in God and put my faith in God to help me through this."
Earlier in the day, Switzer was called as the final witness for the defense. He testified for about an hour, and once again a lifesize mannequin came into play as Switzer showed how he says he touched the student.
"I'm walking past him," Switzer said in court, as he walked past the mannequin. He appeared to touch the mannequin on the chest with the back of his hand, and said, "Hurry up!" He was asked, "And that's what you did that you're calling a nudge?" "Yes," Switzer replied.
His accuser used the same mannequin on Wednesday to demonstrate what he described as a groping of his pectoral muscles. That was back in February of 2011. The student was 15 years old at the time, and was being held back in class to finish an assignment in Spanish.
The accuser's parents were allowed in the courtroom for the first time on Thursday, and the mother broke down at times during Switzer's testimony.
Prosecutors hit hard on what they called Switzer's varying accounts of what happened, including what he told Trinity's principal immediately after the incident versus what he told a Child Protective Services social worker and psychologist.
Switzer worked at Trinity 39 years, but was placed on leave last February and eventually retired after accusations of inappropriate conduct came to light.
"We were family there, and I miss my family. I miss them very much," says Donald Switzer.
As he now tries to move forward after being found "not guilty", he does have a message for the family who brought the charges against him.
"I do want to say, I forgive them for what they did to me," says Donald Switzer.
He says he doesn't know if he'll return to teaching now, because he's taking care of his 97-year-old mother.
The parents of the student who accused Switzer did not want to comment.
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