The Goodine family had a special reason to be thankful in church Sunday after former Chattanooga police officer Lawrence Goodine’s not guilty verdicts Saturday.
“Thank God that we had an excellent jury that listened to the facts of the case,” Dr. Larry Goodine, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Booneville, Miss., said following his son’s acquittal.
After being a patrol officer for about a year and a half, Mr. Goodine, 27, was fired in April 2007 following an internal affairs investigation of claims that he lied and stole while on duty and charged with a total of 18 felonies and misdemeanors in May 2007.
A jury in Criminal Court Judge Don Poole’s courtroom heard four days of testimony and deliberated for 10 hours before reaching a decision: not guilty on all counts.
Lee Davis, attorney for Mr. Goodine, said he was thankful for the jury’s decision and that his 27-year-old client now can move forward with his life.
“I consider this case closed,” Mr. Davis said.
For complete coverage see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
