ORLANDO -- A Walt Disney World worker who portrayed the character Tigger was acquitted Wednesday of charges he fondled a 13-year-old girl while posing for a photo with the teen and her mother.
Jurors found Michael Chartrand not guilty of lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony, after deliberating for less than an hour. He had faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Chartrand hugged his attorneys when he heard the verdict. Earlier this week, he rejected a plea offer that would have given him probation.
Outside court, Chartrand, a native of England who lost his fiance and had been suspended without pay after his arrest, said he would like his job back, but that the experience "has ruined my dream to be a character."
Disney spokesman Bill Warren said, "We can have a conversation with him, but at this point we really don't have a comment."
Prosecutor Will Jay and members of the girl's family left court without commenting.
During closing arguments earlier Wednesday, a defense attorney donned a Tigger costume in the courtroom in an effort to show jurors how difficult it is to maneuver and see in the outfit.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman--who also moonlights as Tigger and Goofy at Walt Disney World--first strapped on Tigger's tail and then put on a neck cloth, the enormous orange-and-black striped head, and two large orange mitts to show jurors how the costume limits peripheral vision and arm movements.
Jurors said the tactic had no effect on their decision. "There was no evidence to convict," juror Zach Kauffman said. "They couldn't even prove who was behind the Tigger mask."
On the stand, Chartrand answered "no" when asked if he had ever touched anyone inappropriately while working as a costumed Disney character.
Chartrand, 36, said he wrote a letter of apology to the girl, but only at the urging of a detective investigating the case.
"I believe [the detective] was trying to get me to admit to something I would never do--fondling or groping a female," Chartrand testified.
By Mike Schneider
Associated Press
Published August 5, 2004
Jury acquits Disney worker accused of fondling teen girl
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CujoSR
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Jury acquits Disney worker accused of fondling teen girl
From: ChicagoTribune.com
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"You're messing with my Zen thing, man."
"Dreams are as portals,
flat visions of misty places,
fragments bound below my surface,
but I can write dreams,
they flow from me,
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Re: Jury acquits Disney worker accused of fondling teen girl
Am sure you all saw or heard this same CM was PLUTO a day or so ago & supposedly touched/pushed 2 Kodak CMs (girls) in the chest area. WDW suspended ol Michael again for inappropriate touching. Think there just might be a slight reality prob here :?:CujoSR wrote:From:ChicagoTribune.comORLANDO -- A Walt Disney World worker who portrayed the character Tigger was acquitted Wednesday of charges he fondled a 13-year-old girl while posing for a photo with the teen and her mother.
Jurors found Michael Chartrand not guilty of lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony, after deliberating for less than an hour. He had faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
By Mike Schneider
Associated Press
Published August 5, 2004
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