A jury returned a not guilty verdict concluding a two-day trial in Starke Circuit Court with defendant Michael Salita on Thursday afternoon.
Salita was arrested in August on a charge of rape as Level 3 felony. He had been incarcerated since he was arrested. The state had called four witnesses and the defense called five, including Salita.
Twelve jurors were selected Wednesday morning to hear testimony in the case in addition to one alternate. They returned Thursday afternoon with a verdict after 35 minutes of deliberation.
