Not guilty on all counts. That was the verdict Friday for former Ohio State running back Bri'onte Dunn.
Dunn was charged with two counts of rape. He is now a free man.
Bri'onte Dunn's freedom and his future hung in the balance Friday as jurors filed into a Franklin County Courtroom.
They deliberated for just under three hours before returning this verdict:
"We the jury in this case, being duly empaneled and sworn, find the defendant not guilty as to count 2 of the indictment for rape.">
Dunn hugged his attorney and wiped tears from his eyes. His friends and family were overcome with emotion at the outcome.
His attorney Joe Landusky spoke for him after.
"These are very difficult cases because rape is a horrible crime, a heinous crime. It's just something that he didn't do."
Dunn and his accuser dated briefly in the summer of 2017.
She told jurors they had broken up by August 20, when he called her at 4 a.m. for a ride.
She picked him up and took him to her apartment, where she said he raped her.
Dunn took the stand yesterday and denied any forced contact.
The woman admitted to contacting Dunn up to 27 times after the alleged rape.
Jurors heard recordings of her telling Dunn she would tell everyone she had lied about it.
Dunn initially faced three counts of rape, and a possible 33 years in prison.
Before the jury was seated, Tuesday prosecutors offered to drop everything in exchange for a guilty plea to misdemeanor assault.
"My client has categorically rejected that offer," Landusky said Tuesday. "My client has told me, and I even asked him, if they offer a minor misdemeanor disorderly conduct and suspended all fines and costs, would you take a deal? He says no. and his reason for that is because he is an innocent man. He's not just presumed innocent, but actually innocent."
A gamble that paid off, with Bri'onte Dunn's freedom.
"That's why we have trials in this country," said Landusky. "Thank God we live in America and we have our court system to make sure things stay fair."
Landusky says Dunn still has dreams of reclaiming his football career with the Canadian Football League and possibly someday the NFL.
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