Ex-Florida player Jackson found not guilty in robbery case

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Cleared of legal charges, former Florida cornerback J.C. Jackson plans to resume playing college football.

It’s uncertain if it will be with the Gators.

Jackson was found not guilty Friday on three felony counts of armed robbery. He also was acquitted of a felony burglary charge stemming from an April 18 incident in Gainesville.

“I would like to come back, but it’s up to the coaches,” Jackson told reporters outside the courtroom.

His attorney, Christopher Brown, said transferring to another Football Bowl Subdivision program might be an option.

“He made some mistakes that he is not proud of, that his family is not proud of,” Brown said. “Those mistakes are his associations and not making a better effort to stop things from happening. Now that he has been cleared, we are going to look at what options he has.

“He always wanted to be a Gator. He was very loyal to the school and the program. Now that he is clear, we are going to be giving them a call.”

Jackson has not been enrolled at Florida since his arrest. To return, he might need clearance from the university’s student conduct committee.

Police said Jackson led two men, one of them carrying a gun, into a Gainesville apartment. The two men robbed everyone inside, taking two video game systems and $382 in cash.

Assistant State Attorney Adam Urra said in closing arguments that Jackson’s participation warranted a guilty verdict.

“J.C. Jackson had a big role,  get everyone in,” Urra said. “It was a single-minded, single purpose of his.”

Brown said in his closing arguments that a crime would have happened whether Jackson was at the apartment or not. He called the evidence against Jackson circumstantial and prosecution witnesses unreliable.

“If somebody is not telling the truth and you know for a fact they were not, are you willing to rely on their testimony for such an important purpose?” Brown said.

The jury delivered the verdict after about three hours of deliberation.

A co-defendant, Bosie Dwayne Jackson, who is not related to J.C. Jackson, is awaiting trial.

Jackson missed the 2014 season following shoulder surgery, but was expected to start opposite Vernon Hargreaves III this fall. He was widely considered one of the most athletic players on Florida’s roster.