OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A six-person jury found an Osceola County court clerk not guilty of battering his executive aide on Wednesday.
Deputies said Malcom Thompson, 62, of Kissimmee, was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery and assault after he was accused of striking his executive aide in December 2011.
The jury deliberating for about an hour, Osceola County officials said.
Thompson has been the clerk of court since 2009. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement started investigating Thompson after receiving employee complaints that he shoved an employee on Dec. 29, 2011 and assaulted another on Jan. 10.
Thompson said it's a misunderstanding and the whole incident was friendly office horseplay. His second trial, dealing with similar instances, begins Thursday.
State officials said Gov. Rick Scott will review Thompson's case to decide if Thompson will return to his job.
Watch Local 6 for more on this story.