Jury finds former Seattle police officer not guilty of child molestation charges

EVERETT, Wash.  -- A former Seattle police officer has been acquitted of all charges of child molestation.

A Snohomish County Superior Court jury found Eric Smith, 58, of Bothell, not guilty on Wednesday. The Everett Herald aid Smith wiped away tears and hugged relatives after the verdict was read.

Smith had been accused by his ex-girlfriend's daughter of molesting her since she was 7.

Smith's lawyer, Mark Mestel, said there were too many inconsistencies in the girl's story and the jury obviously did not find her allegations credible.

The Seattle Times said Smith had been hired by the Seattle Police Department in 1983. He was placed on paid administrative leave after the allegations surfaced in 2014. After he was criminally charged, Smith was placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case and then retired from the department in July 2014.