Toledoan acquitted of raping boy in 1999

12/30/2005

WAUSEON A Fulton County jury yesterday found a Toledo man not guilty of raping a 7-year-old boy at a campground in 1999.

The jury deliberated for a couple of hours before returning its not guilty verdict for Danny M. Monhollen, assistant prosecutor Charles Bergman said. Monhollen, 44, of 2105 North Erie St. is serving a two-year prison sentence for a Lucas County sex conviction involving the boy s cousin.

The verdict surprised Mr. Bergman. I obviously thought we had a good case, he said.

Fulton County Common Pleas Court Judge James Barber said the facts of the case may have placed doubts in the minds of the jurors.

He said the alleged victim, now 12, was relating events that occurred five years ago. Monhollen did not testify and the boy testified that he continued to maintain a good relationship with the defendant even after the alleged assault.

As for the victim and his family, Mr. Bergman said they seemed to be taking the results of the two-day trial better than he was.

They re relieved it s over with, he said. This young man was very brave and I feel bad that there wasn t some other kind of closure for him, but I think he s doing remarkably well in the circumstances.

Contacted last night, Monhollen s attorney, Stacey Burns of Delta, declined comment.