Bowie County jury acquits man, 26, of sexual assault

NEW BOSTON, Texas - A Bowie County jury acquitted a man accused of sexually assaulting a female friend following a house party in August 2018.

Dreylund Edwards, 26, was accused of sexually assaulting the woman in the early hours of Aug. 23, 2018, following a party at his house on Lambeth Circle in Texarkana, Texas. The jury heard testimony Wednesday from witnesses for the state and watched a videotaped interview of Edwards with Texarkana, Texas, Detective Tabitha Smith.

Thursday the jury heard testimony from multiple character witnesses for Edwards who testified under questioning from Assistant Public Defender Bart Craytor that they had never known Edwards to be aggressive toward women. Craytor described the case to the jury Thursday as a "he said, she said" case.

Edwards' accuser testified Wednesday that she did not make a report to law enforcement until several weeks had passed. Because of the time that had passed, there was no physical evidence for investigators to collect.

In emotional testimony Wednesday, the woman said she was encouraged to come forward by a former foster mother. Craytor argued in closing remarks that photos the woman posted on Facebook in the weeks after the alleged assault showed she was "not devastated, normal and happy."

The pictures showed the woman and a female friend dressed in Halloween costumes, on a hiking trip, at a friend's engagement party in a bar and at a bachelorette party. Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards argued against the admission of the photos but 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison ruled in favor of the defense.

Edwards did not testify.

In closing arguments, Richards and Assistant District Attorney Randle Smolarz told the jury they do not need physical evidence to convict if they believe the woman's testimony.

Edwards had been free on a $40,000 bond. No other charges are pending against him in Bowie County.

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