A jury finds former a North Kingstown basketball coach not guilty of child molestation and sexual assault.
Aaron Thomas was found guilty on two counts of misdemeanor battery charges related to the so-called naked fat tests that he performed on student athletes. Thomas' attorney John MacDonald is thanking the jury for the verdict, saying there was no sexual intent in conducting the tests.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha has released a statement that says in part that despite what the defendant would have you believe, pseudo-science is not an excuse for abuse, nor is winning more important than well-being.
He says his office believes that what took place was not just bad judgment, it was - and always has been, criminal conduct. He also tells the victims that their exceptional courage is not invalidated by the verdict.
John McDonald, the attorney for Thomas says that the jury believed his client that none of the tests were done for sexual gratification.
Thomas will be sentenced on June 26th on the lesser charges.
(Photo by Veronica Gabriela Cardenas-Pool/Getty Images)
Photo: Pool / Getty Images News / Getty Images