Campbell man acquitted of rape, other charges

The foreman said there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A seven-woman, five-man jury has acquitted a Campbell man of rape, kidnapping and felonious assault after deliberating 2 1‚Ñ2 hours.

The jury announced its verdicts acquitting Reynold F. Banks, 57, of Chambers Street, on Thursday, and Banks was released from Mahoning County Jail.

Prosecutors alleged that Banks committed the offenses on Oct. 15, 2007, in his residence against a 44-year-old Youngstown woman, who was his former girlfriend.

Mark Dickerhoof of Poland, the jury foreman, said the acquittal occurred because there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.

Jurors quickly reached a verdict of acquittal on the rape and kidnapping charges during their one hour of deliberations late Wednesday because only the alleged victim testified in support of those charges and no scientific or other evidence was introduced in support of them, he said.

Jurors deliberated longer before reaching their acquittal verdict on the felonious-assault charge, not reaching that verdict until they resumed deliberations Thursday. That’s because that charge was supported by a doctor’s testimony that the victim had injuries that could have come from a beating, he added.

The trial began Monday before Judge Timothy E. Franken of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.