COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – 37-year-old Jason Lee Rodgers of Algansee Township was found innocent Thursday on two charges in connection with an assault and attempted abduction of a woman in Kinderhook Township back in July of 2018.
A Branch County Circuit Court jury returned not guilty verdicts just before noon after deliberating for only 25 minutes on charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Foldie managed to convince the jury his client was innocent of the charges as he raised several questions about the prosecution’s DNA evidence. He said except for a small amount of DNA that was found on a knife sheath, there was no other DNA or fingerprints from his client on any other item and he raised the issue that there was a secondary transfer of the DNA.
The defense brought in their own DNA expert from East Lansing as Rodgers claimed his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
Closing arguments were presented Thursday morning and the verdicts were handed down at the end of a three day trial in Circuit Court.
Rodgers was on trial following a Michigan State Police investigation into an incident on Poley Drive near Southern Road which involved a 54-year-old woman who authorities say was attacked in the dark as she was leaving her home to go to work.
