Sleepwalking defendant is acquitted

ORLANDO --
(AP) -- An Orlando man says he was sleepwalking when he inappropriately touched a girl in 2006.

Lawyers for 28-year-old Justin Cox say he had a history of the disorder. The jurors believed the defense. He was cleared Thursday of all charges of lewd and lascivious acts.

A doctor who evaluated him testified that Cox was sleepwalking at the time of the attack. The doctor also said Cox has a family history of the disorder and Cox has sleepwalked since he was a child.

One night in 2006, Cox returned to a friend's house after a night of partying. He told the jury he woke up on the couch where the 12-year-old girl was sleeping. She had told police he fondled her and that she had tried to wake him up.

Cox says he's going to seek treatment for his sleepwalking.

 

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