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Minneapolis (WCCO) ― After eight hours of deliberation, a jury found Dr. James McLeod not guilty of molesting a teenage patient Wednesday.

The well-known St. Louis Park, Minn. pediatrician maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His supporters rallied on his behalf when he was first charged, packed the courtroom throughout the trial and celebrated when he was cleared in the case.

"There really aren't any winners in this situation, but we're very relieved that the facts of the truth came out," McLeod said after he left the courthouse.

The accuser's mother spoke with WCCO-TV's Darcy Pohland on the phone and said the family was doing all right but were unprepared to comment on the verdict.

Prosecutors alleged McLeod, 62, sexually abused a teenage patient on eight different occasions when the patient was between the ages of 13 and 15. The teenager, now 17, testified against the doctor during his trial.

Juror Bill Kruskop said many of the jurors believe there was a likelihood the patient was abused, but didn't feel like the case was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. When they returned the verdict, some of the jurors had tears in their eyes.

"There are a number of members of the jury who had very real concerns about the young man's accusations," Kruskop said. "However, as a group, the jury decided there was still a reasonable doubt."

Kruskop is a WCCO employee, a fact he did disclose during jury selection.

Bill Mauzy, the defense attorney, expressed his satisfaction.

Mauzy said, "I'm relieved. This offense, if the judge followed the sentencing guidelines, is a 12-year prison sentence. The thought of having an innocent man convicted and sent off to prison for 12 years is something that produces a lot of stress in a criminal defense lawyer."

But the prosecuting attorney, Paul Young, was frustrated that some evidence he considered critical to the case was not allowed. Young said jurors may have come to a different conclusion if the judge had allowed testimony of another teen alleging abuse to be heard in the trial.

Young said "I think if you were to interview the jurors and ask them if they knew about another child who, five days earlier was masturbated by the doctor, they can give you their response. I think it's critical evidence."

McLeod took the stand in his own defense during the trial.

As part of the questioning, Mauzy asked McLeod, "Did you perform oral sex on him?"

McLeod replied, "No, I absolutely did not."

"Did you masturbate him?" Mauzy asked.

"No, I did not," McLeod replied.

It was a response the pediatrician repeated 16 times Jan. 12, as he recalled visits the accuser had with him at his clinic.

McLeod described his teenage accuser as a troubled patient. McLeod testified that two years ago, he arranged an emergency meeting with the boy and his family at the clinic.

McLeod testified he felt sorry for the boy and did what he could to make him feel better.

McLeod voluntarily suspended his practice two years ago when the sex abuse charges were filed against him. He spent his entire career with Pediatric Services and often made Mpls.-St. Paul Magazine's list of top doctors.

McLeod plans to ask the medical board to reinstate him soon.

McLeod was charged in March 2004 with abusing two teenage male patients. McLeod still faces a trial in the second case.

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