Jury Finds List Not Guilty of Abuse

By Brian L. Huchel
Commercial-News
July 14, 2012

http://commercial-news.com/local/x471598547/Jury-finds-List-not-guilty-of-abuse

Four days after walking into the courtroom as a man charged with sexual assault, Mark List of Danville left Vermilion County Courthouse exonerated.

A jury deliberated for almost three hours before returning a verdict around 5:30 p.m. of not guilty on three charges List faced charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault in a position of trust and indecent solicitation of a child.

Danville police arrested List in January 2010 based on accusations he sexually abused a student at Danville Christian Academy while List was an associate pastor there.

Defense attorney David Ryan said Friday night he was grateful for the jury’s verdict in the case.

“It’s been a tough two years,” Ryan said of List and dealing with the charges against him. “It’s been a very difficult time in his life.

Ryan added that List’s family — both his biological family and his church family — are grateful for the outcome of the week-long jury trial.

“There certainly is power in prayer,” he added.

Assistant State’s Attorney Chuck Mockbee IV said the victim had been around 16 or 17 years old at the time he alleged the incidents took place. The victim — who has been identified in court — took the stand for the prosecution as part of its case.

The victim had alleged incidents began after his mother, who knew List through the Danville Christian Academy, asked List to talk to her son about sex. The teenager complained about the incidents to his mother, who then contacted school officials.

If convicted, List had faced a possible penalty of up to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Vermilion County State’s Attorney Randy Brinegar said Friday evening only that he was disappointed in the jury’s verdict in the matter, but he “respects their decision.”

This is the second consecutive case that has ended contrary to the charges filed by the state’s attorney’s office. In late June, a jury could only agree to a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting case against Alvin Beasley of Danville.

Beasley was charged with first-degree in the murder in the shooting of 17-year-old Deyron Mullins in December. The jury verdict effectively cut the prison sentence facing Beasley from a maximum of 60 years to life in prison to up to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections