Accused acquitted in daycare touching trial

Jacob Cole, 20, of Scotchtown, found not guilty after young complainant offers new information during cross-examination, including details that were “verifiably false”

A young man accused of molesting a little girl at his mother’s daycare business in Pepper Creek two years ago was acquitted Wednesday, after the child’s testimony went sideways early in the trial.

Jacob Cole, 20, of Cottage Lane in Scotchtown, appeared in the Court of King’s Bench at the Burton Courthouse on Wednesday for the first day of his trial on indictable charges of sexually assaulting a minor and touching that same child for a sexual purpose, allegedly on Aug. 8, 2022.

Cole had originally elected to be tried by a judge and jury, but earlier this month, he re-elected trial by King’s Bench judge alone.