Jury Acquits Former Professor of Sexual Battery Charges

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A former professor with Reinhardt University has been found not guilty on charges he allegedly had inappropriate contact with a former student.

A Cherokee County jury on Friday, Nov. 6 found Dr. Michael David Gregory not guilty on one count of simple battery and two counts of sexual battery, court records show.

Gregory, 68, who resides in Jasper, was initially arrested Jan. 27 and charged with one count of sexual battery.

The case against Gregory came to light in December 2014 when Waleska-based institution received the results of the investigation performed by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office “regarding a complaint of sexual battery” brought forth by a former student, Reinhardt University spokesperson Marsha White previously told Patch.

That former student filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office in November 2014 and during Reinhardt’s review of the investigation, White previously told Patch Gregory submitted his resignation to the college on Dec. 22, 2014.

Gregory, who served as assistant professor of music at Reinhardt, had been employed by the higher education institution for nine years, White stated.

Following the arrest, the Cherokee County Solicitor General office in August filed accusations on two counts of sexual battery, which alleged Gregory intentionally made physical contact ”with the intimate parts of his body” against the former student.

The accusation was amended in October to add the simple battery charge, which alleged Gregory kissed the student on her lips without her consent.

Gregory told WSB-TV that the outcome, in the end, does not matter.

“I was professionally and personally devastated,” he said.

Return to Patch for updates.

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