By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
A jury of six men and six women has found Chadwick Monroe not guilty on two counts of rape, one count of kidnapping, and one count of gross sexual imposition.
The jury deliberated over a period of two days to come to a verdict shortly after 10 a.m. Friday morning in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Monroe, attired in a dark blue suit, sat silently between his attorneys Richard Cline and Joel Spitzer as the jury filed in, a few of the jury members casting quick glances at the defendant. In a courtroom filled with family members and friends of both the alleged victim and the defendant, the bailiff read the verdict.
Thirty-nine-year-old Chad Monroe had been facing two counts of first-degree felony rape, one count of first-degree kidnapping, and one count of fourth-degree felony gross sexual imposition. The alleged crimes had occurred in Jefferson Township on Jan. 21. He was found not guilty on all four counts.
The 20-year-old alleged victim sat in the back row of the court’s gallery with the county’s victim advocate at her side. As each verdict was read, she murmured, “Oh, no, oh no.” She quickly fled the courtroom after the final not guilty verdict was read, family and friends with her.
Meanwhile, the defense attorneys shared hugs with Monroe’s family.
“We’re very pleased with the jury’s verdict,” Cline said. “We appreciate all of the hard work the jury, all of the lawyers and the judge put in on this case.”
Cline added that Monroe would have no comment on the subject.
“The State has the burden (of proof) and it’s a high burden. That’s the way the criminal system is designed and that’s the way it should be,” Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall said. “We obviously found the victim to be very credible and that’s why we brought the case.”
The prosecution had called 10 witnesses between Wednesday and Thursday, including the victim who took the stand Thursday morning. The witnesses included officers from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Criminal Investigation crime scene technicians and scientists, a witness that saw Monroe running down the street, the nurse that processed the rape kit, and the defendant’s grandmother. The defense called Monroe as its only witness. He testified Thursday afternoon.
The jury began deliberation around 3 p.m. Thursday. Visiting Judge Dale Crawford said the jury would end deliberations for the day if they had not come to a verdict by 4:30 that afternoon. They returned to the courthouse at 9 a.m. Friday. A little over an hour later, the decision had been made.