News: Tigger not guilty of groping 13-year-old

Posted at 12:05 AM EDT (0405 GMT)

Aug. 6th, 2004 -- Michael C. Chartrand, who in currently on unpaid leave from the Walt Disney Company, was jubilant after being found not guilty of molestation charges while dressed in the Tigger costume at Walt Disney World.

The court case ended in dramatic fashion with Chartrand's lawyer giving his closing arguments while wearing the Tigger costume.

Jury members later said the closing theatrics had nothing to do with how they decided. The jurors each had the opportunity to put on the Tigger mask and gloves. The consensus was that the gloves made it very difficult to tell what or where you were touching.

Disney officials had no comment on the news. Chartland doesn't think he will go back to wearing the Tigger costume anytime soon. He suggested he might like to be a character greeter and remain out of costume.

Read more at CNN and News.com.au.

Posted by Steven and Aaron