Verdict is not guilty in sexual assault trial

The trial of a 14-year-old boy accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in the Marshall High School library Feb. 7 & 8 continued today with testimony from the boy, assistant librarian Val Leonard and therapist Joan Furu. The jury received the case at about 11 a.m. and returned at 1:30 p.m. with a not guilty verdict. Testifying yesterday were the victim, her mother, police officers Lee Friend and Scott McDonald, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Donna Lawrence, the defendant's mother and assistant MHS principal, Andrea Nessel. The same boy is accused of similar offenses against another girl on Feb. 2 which were reported before the case tried this week. Sources say how the Feb. 2 case is handled will be determined by the outcome of today's trial. See the July 28 Chronicle for details.