John Dixon, 62, is already a convicted sex offender for a separate case in Pennsylvania
TRENTON -- A Mercer County jury found a registered sex offender not guilty Monday of sexually assaulting a young boy four years ago.
The jury acquitted John Dixon, 62, of Hightstown of second-degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child charges following a week-long trial that ended this past Friday.
A boy, who was nine during the time of the alleged assault, had claimed Dixon molested him one time between May and October of 2012 when he was visiting Dixon's home, according to Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Mennuti.
The allegations only came to light when the boy told his parents a year later.
Convicted sex offender awaits verdict in another case
Dixon is already a convicted sex offender in Pennsylvania, where he sexually assaulted three girls, owned child pornography and violated Megan's law.
He also has a weapons offense conviction, officials said. Jurors in the Mercer County case were not told of Dixon's prior convictions.
The trial saw several witnesses testify, including Dixon's wife, who claimed the alleged victim was often untruthful.
She said she never left her husband alone with the child when he came to visit their Hightstown home. However, when pressed by Mennuti during questioning last week, Dixon's wife admitted that she may have left the room to use the bathroom on several occasions.
The jury went into deliberations Friday afternoon and returned with the verdict Monday.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman