Jury acquits man of sex assault charges

A Douglas County District Court jury acquitted a Gardnerville man Tuesday of four felony charges of sexually assaulting the son of his former girlfriend.

The jury of five men and seven women deliberated 14 hours over two days before finding Ronald John Smith, 42, "not guilty" of sexual assault against a child under 14 about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

District Judge Dave Gamble ordered Smith released immediately from Douglas County Jail where he has been held on $500,000 bail since his arrest in September.

"I knew it from the very beginning that he was not guilty," said Don Smith, the defendant's father.

He and his wife Mary moved to Gardnerville from Michigan after their son's arrest.

He said Ronald Smith wanted to celebrate Tuesday with a steak dinner.

"I'm delighted," said lawyer Laura Grant who represented Smith. "Twelve people finally agreed with what I believed all along. We got exactly the verdict we should have."

Prosecutor Tom Gregory said he was disappointed.

"It's always tough," he said. "I respect the jury system, but I would be lying if I didn't say I was extremely disappointed, especially on behalf of the victim."

Several of the jurors were crying as the verdicts were read.

"This has been a very difficult jury deliberation," said District Judge Dave Gamble. "I can see it has been very difficult for you and emotional."

Gamble had the jurors escorted from the courtroom and admonished the audience not to talk with them.

"These cases are very difficult," Grant said. "And the length of time it took them, that's hard work."

The 13-year-old boy claimed that Smith sexually assaulted him several times from April 2006, until September when the defendant was arrested.

The boy was 12 when he said the incidents occurred.

He testified for several hours April 16 relaying details of the assaults he alleged occurred at his Topaz Ranch Estates home, in Smith's car, and trailer.

The defense pointed to inconsistencies in the boy's story and the testimony of Smith's friends that he was a father figure to the child.

In closing arguments Monday, Grant said she couldn't say why the boy would make up such allegations.

The boy was in the courtroom with his family as the verdicts were read.

"This was a travesty," Grant said Tuesday while she waited for Smith's release.

"This man has given up seven months of his life sitting in jail. He never wavered in declaring his innocence. I couldn't be happier. In this case, justice has been served."