After deliberating for about 90 minutes Wednesday, the jury found former judge Jack Jones not guilty, saying he did not knowingly or willingly conceal the offenses of which he had been accused, which means he could not be convicted.
Jones had been charged with using county resources for work on both private and personal property during his final eight years in office. He was a county judge from 1989 to 2006.
Jones says he was humbled by the jury's verdict and says he's been set free after being "bound up for a while."
Special Prosecutor Robert Dittrich of Stuttgart says he never questions the wisdom of a jury verdict. He says he knew the concealment issue would be difficult to prove.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)