A MERCER COUNTY JURY HAS ACQUITTED BENJAMIN M. CURRENT OF ALL CHARGES FOLLOWING A BRIEF DELIBERATION ON MONDAY EVENING.

CURRENT ORIGINALLY FACED FIVE COUNTS FROM A SEPTEMBER INDICTMENT RELATED TO AN INCIDENT ON AUGUST 23RD IN A SOUTHBOUND ALLEY IN THE 100 BLOCK OF WEST MARKET STREET. THESE INITIAL CHARGES INCLUDED TWO FELONIES FOR FELONIOUS ASSAULT, TWO FIRST-DEGREE MISDEMEANORS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ONE FIRST-DEGREE MISDEMEANOR FOR ENDANGERING CHILDREN. COUNTY PROSECUTOR ERIN MINOR FORMALLY DROPPED ALL MISDEMEANOR CHARGES BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGAN. CURRENT WAS LEFT TO FACE TWO THIRD-DEGREE FELONY COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FELONIOUS ASSAULT, EACH RELATED TO A SEPARATE ALLEGED VICTIM.

THE JURY RETURNED NOT-GUILTY VERDICTS AROUND 5:25 P.M. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF DELIBERATION. FOLLOWING THE VERDICT, THE COURT ENTERED A JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL, DISMISSED ALL REMAINING CHARGES, ASSESSED COURT COSTS TO THE STATE OF OHIO, AND DISCHARGED CURRENT'S BOND.