A Warren County jury on Wednesday found 46-year-old Roderick Bennett of Vicksburg not guilty of the charge of gratification of lust with a child under the age of 16.

Bennett was charged in connection with an incident that was alleged to have occurred in May 2023. He was accused of touching an underaged female while they were inside his truck near his residence.

Bennett took the stand in his defense on Wednesday and testified that he and the child’s parents had been friends since childhood and, at one point, were neighbors. He stated he was on his way to a painting job on the day in question, adding his passenger’s seat was stacked with painting equipment, making it impossible for the alleged victim to have gotten into his truck. He admitted rolling down the window and speaking to the child that day. He also admitted to having previously had a friendly relationship with the family until 2022, when he said they had a falling out.

A witness allowed to testify from California via Zoom testified she was unable to travel due to health and family circumstances. She stated her mother had been married to Bennett, and that he had also touched her inappropriately when she was a child; however, she had not told anyone at the time.

Tuesday, the court heard testimony from the alleged victim, her mother, father, and the forensic interviewer from the Children’s Advocacy Center who had spoken with the minor. The mother, who is currently serving a life sentence for trafficking her daughter in a different case, said she also trafficked her daughter to Bennett. The case currently before the court was not about trafficking.

Prosecutors Liem Walker and Branan Southerland each led closing arguments for the state, while defense attorney John Bullard represented the defendant. After an approximately two-hour deliberation, the jury came back with a verdict of not guilty.