NORWICH – Following a day and a half trial, a jury of four women and eight men deliberated for about 90 minutes before finding defendant Donald Reese not guilty on all counts – first and third degree rape.

Defense Attorney Veronica M. Gorman thanked the jury for their service, “I always thank juries regardless of verdict.”

She said listening to emotional testimony and sorting out facts from sympathies was difficult.

“An accusation is just that and a lot of proof is necessary and it's not something you learn form watching law and order shows.”

She said the jury made a decision based on a “lack of legally sufficient evidence”and a high constitutional standard of proof needed to convict.

As she said in closing arguments, “Everybody understands it is not 'probably guilty' or 'maybe guilty' it is 'guilty' or it is 'not guilty.'”

Also before the verdict was announced, Norwich Detective Sergeant Reuben Roach said he hoped for a conviction in the case.

“People know that when we receive a complaint like this we take it very seriously. I believe it doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, a victim or a suspect, we will investigate it and if we find something to corroborate what we are hearing we will take it to court,” he said.

Reese, a former corrections officer and military veteran was accused of committing rape on September 11, 2019.