A Cape May County sheriff's sergeant was found not guilty Wednesday in a sexual assault case.
Jay Gaskill III turned down a plea deal that would have given him no jail time in order to fight the charges, his attorney said after the acquittal.
"I know Jay feels vindicated," John Tumelty said. "He has had this hanging over him for a year and a half."
Gaskill was arrested in December 2015, on charges of second-degree sexual assault and criminal sexual contact.
A grand jury indicted him in April 2017. He has been suspended without pay.
Now Gaskill will work to get back his job and the back pay, Tumelty said outside the courtroom.
An Internal Affairs investigation that was put on hold while the case went through the court system is pending.
Jurors began deliberating at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, and reached their verdict before noon Wednesday.
