Teacher acquitted of student sex charges

A high school teacher who was accused of three counts of carnal knowledge seventeen months ago was acquitted today in the Supreme Court. An eight-woman, one-man jury found Norman Rodriguez not guilty after the teen, who was fourteen at the time of the alleged incidents, gave conflicting testimony. At one point the minor could not remember the day, month, or even the year that the alleged intercourse occurred. She also could not describe the layout of Rodriguez’s home on Plues Street, which she claimed to have visited on more than one occasion. The testimony of her mother was also not helpful since she could offer no details. Rodriguez told News Five he is grateful to his family and the many friends who believed in him and supported him through the numerous adjournments and other aspects of the trial. Rodriguez, who was a teacher at Excelsior High School at the time of the allegation, was suspended on half pay. He hopes to be posted elsewhere now that he has been cleared of all charges.