Paul Dobbs, the owner of Essential Kneads Therapeutic Massage in Athens, was found not guilty today of harassing Rachel Pyle, the Limestone County woman who accused him of intentionally stroking her genitals during a routine massage last June.

During the brief trial in Athens Municipal Court, Judge Donald Mansell heard testimony from a tearful Pyle who described the alleged assault in detail. Decatur attorney John Mays represented Dobbs, who denied all of Pyle’s claims.

Much of the case hinged on a telephone text message in which Dobbs apologized to Pyle for “crossing a line.”

In the end, however, Mansell said City Prosecutor Patrick Chestnut failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dobbs was guilty

Pyle left the courtroom clearly shaken.

Dobbs declined to comment, referring The News Courier to his lawyer, who said he was pleased with the verdict.

“In so many cases, it’s just one person’s word against another,” Mays said. “The vanguard of the American legal justice system is that his guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution didn’t meet that standard.”

Pyle said she plans to sue Dobbs in civil court.