LITCHFIELD -- Christian David Lenz, 59, of Litchfield, was acquitted Thursday evening of three counts of felony criminal sexual conduct.
The 12-member jury came to the verdict after a two-day trial in Meeker County District Court. The verdict was read around 9:30 p.m. Thursday evening, according to Stephanie Beckman, county attorney.
The charges against Lenz were based on allegations by a then-15-year-old male employee of the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce. The teen claimed that Lenz, who was then executive director of the chamber, touched his genitals on five occasions between December 2005 and April 2006 at the chamber office or while driving in Lenz's car. The boy quit his job at the chamber and Lenz was released from his duties as director.
Beckman said that the county attorney's office presses charges in cases that have sufficient evidence for a conviction.
"We felt we had that here," she said. "The jury felt differently."
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The state had attempted to admit evidence regarding other alleged actions by Lenz involving contact with juvenile males, but the court denied the motions, Beckman said.
