A Bucks County man was found not guilty on Friday in Carbon County court of sexual assault counts that date back to 2015.

A jury panel found Eric Wayne Johnston, 43, of Hulmeville, not guilty of corruption of minors, defendant 18 or above; unlawful contact with a minor, sexual offenses; and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age.

Johnston was charged by state police at Lehighton following an investigation.

According to the affidavit of probable cause on Nov. 10, 2015, troopers were contacted by Carbon County Children and Youth concerning a report of sexual abuse of a then 7-year-old female at her residence in Jim Thorpe (Penn Forest Township).

The victim claimed that Johnston inappropriately touched her private area. The girl was interviewed by a caseworker at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Scranton and the charges were then filed.

Johnston was interviewed on Sept. 4, 2015, by troopers and denied the allegations, telling them he would never do anything like that.

The trial was before Judge Steven R. Serfass. Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton was the prosecutor. Paul Levy, first assistant public defender, represented Johnson.