Feb. 19--A former Merrionette Park firefighter was found not guilty Wednesday of sexual abuse and assault charges that were filed against him in 2013, officials said.
Cook County Judge William Hooks acquitted Marvin Buhle of criminal sexual abuse and attempted criminal sexual assault charges at a four-hour bench trail at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago, according to the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Buhle was cleared of the charges due to lack of evidence, according to defense attorney Mark Sutter.
"(Hooks) was fair, impartial and justice was served," said Sutter, who represented Buhle with fellow attorney Martin Quintana.
The incident was alleged to have taken place at a party Buhle and the victim attended in June 2013 at a home in the 3900 block of West 109th Street in Chicago's Mount Greenwood community, according to court records.
Charges against another Merrionette Park firefighter, who was accused of serving as a lookout during the alleged incident, were dropped in April due to a lack of evidence, officials said.
Tom Mannix, a spokesman for Merrionette Park, said that Buhle was let go from the volunteer fire department in the small southwest suburb after he was charged. The other firefighter still serves on the department, Mannix said.
Those serving on the department must be reappointed by the mayor and the village board every year, Mannix said. It was unknown if Buhle will be appointed to serve on the force in the future, he said.
