Johnson was jailed for more than five months with sex-abuse charges hanging over his head. He lost his job at a bank, his marriage ended and his house went into foreclosure. A possible political career evaporated.

On Wednesday, a Stark County jury acquitted Johnson, 41, of 1708 Jackson Ave. NW in Perry Township, of molesting his teenage stepdaughter - a charge he always denied.

Johnson was released from jail after the verdict and said he is spending time with his father, daughters and an ex-wife, who helped prepare his defense.

Johnson maintained his innocence and insisted on having his day in court. Although he faced up to five years in prison, he says he turned down the prosecution's offer of probation and immediate release from jail in return for a guilty plea.

"To me (the verdict) says these people looked at the evidence and found no truth in the allegations," Johnson said. "I had my day in court. Will I ever get past it? I think I will get past it."

Johnson said he campaigned as hard as he could until the allegations came out. It hurt to see Democratic Party leaders describe him as just "a name on the ballot." One called his candidacy a "running joke." His opponent said Johnson's name should be taken off the ballot.

"With the accusations going on, it kind of diverted my attention from the campaign," he said. "I want to thank those 18,000 people who did vote for me and realized I wasn't just a name on the ballot."

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