JENNINGS, La. (AP) - A state district judge has denied a defendant’s motion for a new trial and acquittal on a sexual battery charge involving children.
The American Press reports (https://bit.ly/1eOXZNb ) 31-year-old Jared Pontiff, of Youngsville, was unanimously convicted by a jury on the sexual battery charge in February. He filed a motion for a new trial, alleging that the actions of one of the jurors prejudiced him and denied him his constitutional rights.
District Judge Steve Gunnell considered the briefs submitted and found that there was no evidence the juror was deceptive and no evidence of any outside influence on the jury’s deliberations.
After denying the motion, Gunnell sentenced Pontiff to 30 years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender.
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Information from: American Press, https://www.americanpress.com
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