Local Mercyhurst Hockey Player Found Innocent to 3 of 4 Sexual Assault Charges

In today's America, accusations of sexual assault are seemingly a daily occurrence. In 2016, Joseph "Bo" Zinner was a Senior hockey player at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was studying to go to Med School when an unimaginable, unexpected obstacle was thrown his way.

On March 16th, 2016 Bo was charged with two counts of Indecent Assault, a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree and First Degree, respectively. Further, he was charged with two charges of Aggravated Indecent Assault, a Felony of the Second Degree. He was expelled from school, kicked off of the hockey team and was facing up to ten (10) years of possible jail time - as well as the burden of registering as a sex offender for a minimum of 15 years - if found guilty.

Trial commenced on December 20th, 2017 and lasted three (3) long days in the Erie County Courthouse. The jury deliberated for merely three (3) and a half hours, the Friday before Christmas, before rendering a verdict of not guilty on three (3) of the four (4) charges. Unfortunately, he was found guilty of Count I, Indecent Assault, a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree. This was the lowest charged crime.

Defense Attorneys Corey Bauer and Leonard Ambrose found this result to be completely illogical due to the fact that each charge had the same underlying basis as to whether or not there was "consent". The charges stemmed from one fluid act that each party admitted to occurring. Therefore, the Attorney's of the Defendant have filed a Motion to Set Aside Verdict for the simple fact that finding Bo guilty of Count I due to a lack of consent is inconsistent with the finding that the act was consensual on Counts II-IV.