A New York man was found not guilty of all charges against him during a trial Monday in Schuylkill County court.

Lazarus Tejera, 20, was found not guilty of rape by forcible compulsion, rape - impair by administer, drugs or intoxicants, sexual assault, indecent exposure, corruption of minors and indecent assault without consent.

Coaldale Police charged Tejera with raping a 14-year-old girl in Coaldale in August 2018.

President Judge William E. Baldwin presided over the trial in courtroom 1.

Tejera, who formerly lived in Coaldale, took the stand in his own defense. Before doing so, the girl testified as to what she said took place that night. She said she got into a car with Tejera, who was not driving but a passenger. They went to his house that he shared with his family. While on the second floor, he allegedly gave her Peace Tea, which she said tasted “weird.” She then said Tejera told her it had tequila in it.

She rested and when she woke, Tejera was on top of her. Her pants were removed and on the floor.

“Did you say anything to him?” Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Foose asked.

“Not at first,” the girl responded.

“Did you eventually say something to him?” Foose said.

“It was something,” but she could not recall exactly what.

She said Tejera was apologizing, saying he didn’t realize she didn’t want it.

She later texted and called people. They later sat on the outside roof and talked. Later they walked to a house of her friend. She also gave Tejera a hug.

Foose asked why she didn’t scream for help.

“There was a lot of emotions,” she said.

Defense attorney William Burke asked her if they hung out before or dated. She said no.

The incident was reported in November 2018 by a high school counselor. The girl said she told a friend about what happened.

The mom of the girl testified that she had video chats with Tejera but until that night before had never personally met him. She was hesitant at first.

“He guaranteed me that she would be safe, that he would take care of her,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

She said her husband also met him. Her daughter texted and called her after the incident, which she hadn’t explained at the time.

“The first phone call she was definitely, definitely crying,” she said.

Tejera was adamant that he didn’t do what he is accused of.

“Did the two of you ever have sexual relations in any shape or form?” Burke asked.

“I did not have any with her,” Tejera said.

He also said he didn’t give her alcohol, never had a conversation with her parents in their driveway and does not drink tea because of a medical condition.

“I don’t drink alcohol, and I don’t keep it in the house,” he said.

He did admit to having video chats with her mother.

Tejera’s father also testified. He said he never met the girl, does not permit females upstairs, nor is alcohol in the home.

Burke said there were “inconsistencies” in the girl’s statements.

“She was not definite at all on the events that brought rise to this,” Burke said.

Foose said while the outcome is disappointing, “we respect the jury’s decision.”