Donald Jessamine was found not guilty of vehicular homicide in the fatal 2012 crash on the Delaware River.
Donald Jessamine will have no more Sunday visits with his attorney.
"We got together every Sunday to go over the case," attorney Michael Priarone explained to his client's supporters after Jessamine was found not guilty of vehicular homicide for a fatal 2012 boat crash on the Delaware River.
Donald Jessamine was found not guilty of vehicular homicide and lesser charges from a fatal 2012 boat accident on the Delaware River. (Sue Beyer | For lehighvalleylive.com)The jury of six men and six women returned the verdict after deliberating for about an hour and a half. A charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter was dismissed Tuesday for a lack of evidence.
In a short hearing later Friday, Judge Bruce Jones also dismissed motor vehicle tickets for reckless boating and boating under the influence.
Authorities had alleged Jessamine was drunk on June 23, 2012, when he crashed a jet boat. He, 57-year-old Lane Alden and another passenger were thrown into the water. Alden died of blunt force trauma and was found five days later miles downriver.
After the trial's conclusion, Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke said he is disappointed in the verdict, but feels worse for Alden's family.
Priarone said jurors came to the correct conclusion, that the accident, while tragic, was not the result of any reckless behavior.
An emotional Jessamine, surrounded by family and friends, offered only a brief statement after the trial: "I'm just happy the justice system finally saw the truth after four years of ruining my life."
Full coverage of the trial can be found here.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.