A Texas man has been found not guilty of raping a woman at a travel center in Jackson Township.
David Odhiambo, 39, of Forth Worth, was acquitted of both rape, a first-degree felony, and kidnapping, a second-degree felony, in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
A jury of eight women and four men deliberated about two hours Thursday morning following a trial that began Tuesday.
The allegations stemmed from a woman being trained by Odhiambo to drive a semitractor-trailer. Both Odhiambo and the accuser worked for a trucking firm in Texas, said Jacob Will, the defendant's attorney.
Odhiambo had faced up to 11 years in prison, Will said.
"He rejected some plea offers," the attorney said. "He was steadfast in his claim of innocence. Obviously, we're grateful for the jury service."
Michael Bickis, an assistant Stark County prosecutor, said rape cases "are difficult for all involved."
Will told jurors that "this story's not believable enough to remove that presumption of innocence."
Will noted it was not until 15 minutes had passed in the recording that sexual activity began. Conversation took place during those 15 minutes, he said.
"We certainly don't hear any screams or acts of physical violence," he said.
After the recording ends, the woman got out of the truck, Will said.
Will noted that the woman met with police two days later. The sexual assault exam revealed no bruising on her body, the attorney told jurors.
As for initially telling police he didn't have sex with the woman, Will said his client was in a foreign country and "scared about going to a foreign jail."
