A court returned no verdict on two sex charges last year. Marketing Professor Scott Ward appealed a court order rejecting his July request that the Pennsylvania Superior Court reconsider two sex-related criminal charges. Although Ward was acquitted of criminal attempt to commit involuntary sexual intercourse with a minor last July, the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas returned no verdict on two lesser charges. Ward was arrested in October 1993 after allegedly offering to pay a state trooper disguised as a 15-year-old to have sex with him. His appeal claimed that by not acquitting him of the remaining charges -- criminal attempt to promote prostitution and criminal attempt to corrupt the morals of a minor -- the Commonwealth implied that there was "sufficient evidence" to incriminate Ward of the sex crimes. "We thought that evidence was so short that we had asked the judge to adjudicate him of 'not guilty'," Ward's attorney Jean Green said. Green explained that while the jury unanimously found Ward innocent on the first charge, they could not come to consensus on the latter two. He noted that Ward has already been through two trials and has "never been convicted of anything." "If we're found right [on the appeal], that's the end," Green said, adding that "I don't see why it should get worse rather than better." Green said Ward's next step is to wait for the judge to either acquit him of the charges or take the case back to trial. The District Attorney's office refused to comment on the case, which has been ongoing since Ward was arrested in 1993 after he allegedly offered to pay the undercover trooper, Sean McMahon, to spend the night with him. After Ward transported him to his home in Ardmore, Pa, the trooper taped a conversation with Ward in which the the two discussed the prospect of prostitution. In court documents, McMahon said that "Ward stated that he was bisexual and that he liked sex," and asked the trooper whether he "liked sex" as well. But investigators admitted that due to technological problems, police recordings of the alleged conversation were unclear. And in November 1995, Ward was acquitted of criminal charges for allegedly paying a 13-year-old Kensington boy to engage in intercourse with him. Ward is currently on leave of absence from his academic duties at the Wharton School.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
