Coach Found Not Guilty

A Pulaski County jury has acquitted a former basketball coach for Pulaski Academy of sexual assault. The circuit court jury deliberated about two hours and ten minutes Friday before returning the innocent verdict for 41-year-old Scott Loucks. Loucks had faced a charge of first-degree sexual assault. Jurors were also allowed to consider convicting him on a lesser charge of second-degree sexual assault. They returned with their verdict shortly after five p-m. Defense attorney Cristi Beaumont of Fayetteville said Loucks was very happy with the verdict. She said he appreciated that the jury listened to all the testimony, and came down with the right decision. Loucks was accused by a female student who worked for him at a basketball camp last summer. Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson said the girl was devastated by the verdict. He said the girl went out on a limb for all the right reasons, and she`s broken-hearted. Police said the victim told them that Loucks asked her to stop by his house following the basketball camp, and he arrived at the door naked.