Former coach not guilty in sex crime

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - The three-day trial for a former Goddard High School teacher and coach accused of sexual contact with a former student is over.

The jury came back Thursday finding David Lawrence not guilty verdict.

On Friday KRQE News 13 spoke with Lawrence about the verdict and how he's ready to get his life back.

It's been nearly nine months since Lawrence, 48, turned himself into Roswell Police after being charged with criminal sexual contact with a former 17-year-old student.

Several witnesses were questioned in the case, and Thursday marked the end of the three-day trial.

After an hour of deliberating, the 12 jurors came back with the acquittal.

"The whole nine months we've tried, and held our heads high and continue to do things that we've been doing as a family," said Lawrence. "And I'll continue to do so."

Though he had family and some community support, the allegations took their toll.

"This has been a long year, and in a small town like Roswell, smaller community like Roswell, these accusations, and these false accusations have reverberated throughout the community," Lawrence's attorney S. Doug Jones Witt said.

Lawrence worked at Goddard for 17 years where he coached boys soccer and girls softball as well as taught health classes.

Last August he was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation into allegations the girl made about the two kissing and touching each other.

Jones Witt said based on those allegations, Lawrence was terminated from the Roswell school district. But its a job he wants back.

"You know, there's not a lot of people that every day they can wake up in the morning and say they love to go to work," Lawrence said.  "I did that for 17 years.

"I woke up every morning, and I'd love to go to work.  Teaching and coaching was a passion of mine."

Jones Witt said this case should have never been brought about.

"For teachers, for anybody who works with children, day care people, the reality is, we live in a world where people are falsely accused," he said.

Although people have taken sides in this case, Lawrence said the not guilty verdict is a start to clear his name.

"I'm just looking forward to getting back to the profession I love," he said.

Lawrence will work to try and get his job back in Roswell. KRQE News 13 sought a response from the school superintendent but did not hear back by Friday afternoon.

Lawrence's attorney said a key factor in the acquittal had to do with the alleged victim changing her story.