Georgia Elementary School Teacher Tonya Craft Found Not Guilty of Child Molestation

(May 11) -- After a five-week trial that captured national media attention, a jury today found Tonya Craft, a former kindergarten teacher in Chickamauga, Ga., not guilty of molesting three young girls.

The news came as a welcome relief to those who have rallied behind Craft since her arrest nearly two years ago.

Billy Weeks, AP

Tonya Craft, a former kindergarten teacher in Chickamauga, Ga., was found not guilty of child molestation charges on Tuesday.

"I had no doubt in my mind that Tonya would be found not guilty," said Keri Mann, a resident of nearby Chattanooga, Tenn., and a member of the Facebook group Truth for Tonya. "We have been praying that God would let this be over soon and let her go home to her family.

"She has been through so much, and now she can finally have her peace, and her truth."

The jury's verdict came at about 5:20 p.m. on the second day of deliberations. The jury foreman read the not guilty verdict in response to all 22 counts, including child molestation, sexual battery and aggravated child molestation.

Had Craft been convicted, she would have faced up to 400 years in prison.

The 37-year-old mother of two was arrested in June 2008 after she was accused of molesting three girls, ages 5 and 6, in her home between August 2005 and May 2007.

During the trial in Catoosa County Superior Court, jurors heard tearful testimony from the three young accusers, who are now 8 and 9, and their parents. One of the alleged victims said Craft molested her "in kindergarten and first grade."

As the trial continued, many conflicting details emerged. One of the alleged victims admitted to lying in a previously taped interview; another said she was promised a toy for talking to police. Other times, witnesses said they could not remember pertinent details of the case.

Experts for the prosecution and defense were also unable to agree on whether the alleged victims showed signs of sexual abuse.

Craft took the stand in her own defense during the trial, saying she was "falsely accused."

"I did not and I have not sexually abused any child," she said.

A jury made up of seven men and five women began debating Craft's case Monday afternoon. At one point, jury members requested to view a video of one of the alleged victims' testimony, but were denied because of a Georgia state law that says juries are only allowed to see written evidence.

Despite the not guilty verdict, some Craft supporters are still demanding answers.

"I am happy about the verdict, [but] I just hope the national media will not go away and will investigate how this accusation began and the horrific damage that was done to this teacher," Craft supporter Carol Graham told AOL News. "Every teacher should be concerned that if they make the wrong parent angry, this could happen to them."

Prosecutors were not expected to speak with the media today, and it remains unclear if Craft or her attorney will be making a statement.