BSL mayor not guilty of assault, sexual battery charges

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A judge found Boiling Spring Lakes Mayor Richard White not guilty today of three counts of sexual battery and one count of assaulting a female.

Susan Prater swore out warrants against White last fall after she claimed White, who was an investigator in the District Attorney’s Office when the two met, touched her inappropriately and that she felt threatened.

On the stand today, Prater said she believe officials in the case and WWAY were involved in a conspiracy against her.

Prater testified for several hours Monday and for a couple of more hours today after a one-day break in the trial.

It was quiet in the courtroom after Judge Scott Ussery announced his verdict. He made it clear there would be no further discussion of the matter or there would be jail time.

Because of the involvement of a former employee of the Brunswick County District Attorney’s Office, a prosecutor from Fayetteville was brought in to hangle the case.