NEW BOSTON, Texas-A Little Rock man accused of sexual misconduct with a 6-year-old was acquitted Thursday after hours of deliberation by a Bowie County jury.
"We're just thankful that this jury listened to the evidence and gave an innocent kid his life back," said Bowie County First Assistant Public Defender Will Williams. "Strodney, his family and I want to thank the jury for their service and careful consideration of his case."
Williams continuously pointed out to the jury inconsistencies in details between the girl's statement to staff at the Children's Advocacy Center as a 6-year-old in 2013 and her testimony as a 10-year-old during the trial.
"None of this adds up. It just doesn't make sense," Williams argued. "Kids are exposed to so much at a younger age than we were. The internet, TV, she could have walked in on her brother."
Bowie County First Assistant District Attorney Mike Shepherd held up a drawing the girl made during an interview at the Children's Advocacy Center in Texarkana in July 2013, which depicts male anatomy in a state of arousal.
The alleged victim, a relative of Davis', testified Wednesday that Davis taught her a "secret handshake" in June 2013, which involved her touching him in a sexual way.
The girl's father testified his daughter came to him July 12, 2013, and told him she had a secret she wanted to tell. The father told his wife, the girl's mother, and together the two of them went to police in Wake Village, Texas, to make a report, they testified.
Williams hammered details in the girl's statement that appeared to contradict the evidence. Davis had not seen the girl until 2012 or 2013 when he first began spending time with her family. During her forensic interview as a 6-year-old, she claimed the abuse happened when she was, "6, or 5, or 4, not when I was 3 because I was still little then."
Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter and Child Advocacy Center forensic interviewer Melanie Halbrook discounted the girl's confusion as age appropriate.
While many members of Davis' family and close family friends testified that such conduct is beyond his character, testimony from Davis' former high school basketball coach was the most powerful.
Michael Abrahamson, who coaches boys basketball in the Bryant, Ark., school district, said Davis was not an outstanding athlete but a standout nonetheless.
"I'd describe him as the ultimate team player. Not a star player," Abrahamson said, noting that Davis didn't seem to mind working hard even though he spent a lot of time on the bench.
"He was the most coachable player I've ever had," Abrahamson said. "He always did everything I asked him to do the first time."
Abrahamson spoke from his heart as he called Davis a leader.
"I don't owe him anything and he doesn't owe me anything. I am here because in no way do I believe Strodney would commit any of these allegations whatsoever," Abrahamson said. "I'm here because it is the right thing to do."