A jury found a 31-year-old Brown County man not guilty of “sexting” a minor after less than an hour of deliberations on Sept. 5.

In 2017, Eric Sumpter was charged with a felony after an Indiana State Police investigation alleged that he sent an inappropriate photo to a minor.

A man had notified authorities after two of his teenage children reported receiving text messages asking for sexual acts in February 2017 from an unknown person. The person also sent a photo of his genitals, according to a probable cause affidavit by ISP Detective Stacy Brown.

The children were 17 and 19.

Brown was able to determine the messages were sent using a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) number.

This was a person the family knew, the father told police.

Prosecutor Ted Adams said his office had concerns about the prospect of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt, but that after meeting with the victims and their family to discuss his concerns, he believed they should have their day in court to “tell their side of the story.”

“Our heavy burden is there to protect all of us, and I certainly do not want to convict an innocent person,” Adams said.

Adams said he understood and respected the jury’s decision after the two-day trial.

“I wish all parties involved the best now that there is closure on the matter,” he said.