PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. — The case of William Barnes Jr., a retired educator facing multiple charges of child sexual abuse in Prince George County, has been declared a mistrial by the judge.
The jury of 12 deliberated for about six hours Thursday following two hours of closing arguments and a failed attempt by the defense to throw the case out based on the credibility of the alleged victim. Ultimately, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on any of the counts.
Prosecutors and the defense will return to court in March to set a new trial date.
Prior to the judge's declaration, commonwealth's special prosecutor Tim Dustan thanked the jury for their sacrifices this week and said he knows it's hard not being able to talk about the trial.
Dustan said Donald Newbold carried that feeling for the last 37 years, living in his own crime scene with his alleged abuser, his adopted father William Barnes.
Newbold testified he was repeatedly raped by Barnes for three years as a teenager.
Dustan acknowledged defense evidence reflecting Newbold sending threatening, profane texts to estranged family and friends as his marriage was falling apart, but said this is not a divorce case of Newbold versus Newbold. It's Newbold versus Barnes, Dustan said.
Dustan went through a checklist of the charges and how they met the burden of proof and how their other witnesses, including a second Barnes accuser, supported their case.
Dustan implored the jury to hold the community accountable, most importantly, hold Barnes accountable for what he did to that child, as he pointed to Donald's picture.
In closing defense arguments, defense attorney Craig Cooley said the case was entirely about credibility and that Newbold lied under oath to the grand jury and in this trial.
Cooley said he lies to make himself look good.
Cooley reminded the jurors suspicion is not enough to convict.
Cooley said Barnes is a loving and generous man to his family and friends, and that the Commonwealth is trying to remove his relationships with everyone.
Cooley left the jury with this: "Can you be fair? Will you be fair? Your oath requires you to find Mr. Barnes not guilty."
Barnes’s next jury trial is scheduled to begin March 16. The alleged victim in that case claims Barnes sexually assaulted him at a sleepover at his home as a teen. Police confirm he reported it through an anonymous tip in 2014 but it was never investigated. Barnes also faces a trial for the other accuser who testified in Newbold’s case. A date has not yet been set for that case.
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