Accused Youth Pastor Not Guilty

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Story Published: Jun 28, 2007 at 9:48 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jun 29, 2007 at 7:01 PM MDT

By Jeff Robinson

The family of a Chubbuck youth pastor is celebrating tonight after he's acquitted of two counts of lewd conduct with a minor and one count of sexual battery.

Gate City Christian Church stood by Josh Robinson the whole time, and now they're ready to welcome him back to his job.

"I can't even explain what's going on inside," said Robinson. "It's just been a wait for months, something that you didn't do, you just had to endure all the looks and criticism. It's nice the truth got out."

"Everything that was important to me got stripped away."

"False allegations can devastate a family as it has devastated ours. No one deserves this kind of punishment from anyone in this world," said John Robinson, his father and the church's senior pastor. "Starting tomorrow morning he will go back to full access to all duties as if nothing had ever happened."

But although Robinson was acquitted by a jury of his peers, the prosecution says:

"We do not feel that justice was served today," said Deputy Prosecutor Vic Pearson. "We're just extremely disappointed."

But Robinson's church community is ready to welcome him back with open arms, with dozens of them at the courthouse today celebrating his acquittal.

"I knew that he was innocent, and it was proven that he was. All of us told the truth, no one had to lie," said Alyssa Howard, who attended his youth group.

"We're thrilled to have Josh back. We've been leading the meetings, and doing all the activities with the youth, and I know that they terribly miss him, and it's been really heartbreaking without him some days," said Carolyn Yakulich, a staff member who worked with the youth.

"I'm going to spend some time praying and thanking God for letting the truth come out, and I'm going to enjoy summer, finally," said Robinson.

Robinson would have faced up to life in prison if he had been convicted of lewd conduct with a minor.

It took the jury a little more than two hours to reach the verdict

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