A Lincoln County jury has found a Choctaw man innocent of five felony charges that had accused him of first degree rape and lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16.
It was the only felony that went to trial during the recent two-week jury trial session that wrapped up June 17.
The jury deliberated only about an hour and 45 minutes before returning with the innocent verdict clearing Robert Charles Kessler, 35, of all the charges.
Kessler was first charged in Lincoln County District Court on April 3, 2019, with lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 and sexual abuse to a child under 12.
On Sep. 29, 2020, an amended information was filed by the District Attorney’s office. The charges included three counts of lewd of indecent acts to a child under 16 and two counts of first degree rape.
The jury trial started on Monday, June 13, before District Judge Cindy Ashwood and the four-day trial concluded Thursday afternoon.
The record shows the defendant, Kessler, took the stand during the trial.
Kessler was represented in the trial by his attorney Eric Bayat and prosecuting the case were Assistant District Attorneys Jeff Mixon and Jaime Ramos.