False Imprisonment and Sexual Assault – Columbia County (February 2026)

Result: Not Guilty on False Imprisonment and Second-Degree Sexual Assault; Remaining Lesser-Included Charge Later Dismissed

Handled By: Attorney Michael Covey

Summary: The client was accused of sexually assaulting a peer at a party. Following extensive investigation and witness preparation, the defense presented six witnesses who testified that the allegations were false. Attorney Covey highlighted numerous inconsistent and exculpatory statements from the State’s witnesses and exposed significant deficiencies in the law enforcement investigation. After trial, the jury acquitted the client of false imprisonment and unanimously rejected the second-degree sexual assault allegation, considering only a lesser-included offense of third-degree sexual assault before ultimately deadlocking 9–3 in favor of the defense. Following the mistrial, the State ultimately dismissed the remaining charge, resulting in no conviction.

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