CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A former Hickory High School basketball coach broke down in tears when a jury found him not guilty of committing sex crimes with students.
It only took the jury 90 minutes to clear Shawn Johnson of all the charges.
Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty has covered this case since 2012 and has spent the last four weeks inside the courtroom.
Johnson faced the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.
By the time the clerk said "not guilty" on all nine felonies, Johnson's head was down on the defense table.
Johnson's wife, along with family and friends, fought back tears after the verdict was announced.
The verdict ends the two-year ordeal in which Johnson was accused of sex crimes against four students at Hickory High School.
IMAGES: Shawn Johnson reacts to not guilty verdict
"I get to be with my kids. I get to be with my children. That's all I want," Johnson said.
Outside the courtroom Johnson joined hands with family members, friends and his defense team to pray after the verdict.
He said his supporters never wavered after his arrest.
His attorney, Lisa Dubs, spoke with Channel 9 about the verdict.
"It came down for the credibility of the witnesses, clearly. The fact of the matter is they arrested Shawn on flimsy, inconsistent, unbelievable evidence," Dubs said.
During the trial some of the accusers' stories changed as to what happened with the coach inside Hickory High School.
Only one of the former students was in the courtroom for the verdict Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson had a message for her and the other three students who testified against him.
"I don't have time to hold grudges against anyone. I'm past that. I spent 78 days in jail away from my children. I've forgiven them," Johnson said.
Prosecutors agree inconsistencies of statements made by the former students hurt the case.
Johnson told Channel 9 he hasn't made a decision on his future of coaching children His focus now is his own family.
Read our past coverage:
- Sept. 15: Attorney of coach accused of sex crimes questions investigative techniques
- Sept. 11: Lead investigator in case against former coach grilled on stand
- Sept. 10: Defense focuses on contradictory statements in Johnson trial
- Sept. 9: Lead investigator questioned in trial of coach accused of sex crimes
- Sept. 8: Lead investigator testifies in trial of coach accused of sex crimes
- Sept. 5: Former principal admits not calling police on alleged sex crime
- Sept. 4: School may have known about sex crime allegations against coach
- Sept. 2: Police Sgt. testifies in case of former HS coach accused of sex crimes