A Baltimore County jury took less than an hour last night to acquit a Sparrows Point High School teacher of charges that he fondled the breasts of a student in his honors chemistry class in September.
Thomas D. Cauffield, 34, of the 200 block of Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, testified that he put his hands only on the shoulders of the 15-year-old after she asked him a question Sept. 22 in a lab.
The jury found him not guilty of child abuse, a fourth-degree sex offense and battery.
Circuit Judge Dana M. Levitz called the parties back to court today. Assistant State's Attorney John P. Cox said he will prosecute an identical set of charges against the teacher involving another girl Sept. 19.
Judge Levitz separated the two cases after defense attorney Thomas C. Morrow argued that trying them together would be prejudicial.
In closing arguments, Mr. Morrow and Mr. Cox said the case centered on the credibility of the teacher and of the girl. She was supported by her best friend and lab partner, who testified that she saw their new teacher move his hands from the girl's shoulders to the sides of her breasts two weeks after school started Sept. 8.
"Try to find a reason why these two young ladies would come in here and say it happened if it didn't," Mr. Cox said. "There is no reason. . . . These are honor students; they're not troubled kids."
Mr. Morrow said Mr. Cauffield, who had just begun his first job in Maryland, was a tough teacher who was giving failing grades to the whole class after five sessions.
"Ladies and gentlemen, does this man look insane to you?" Mr. Morrow said. He called it "nonsense" that a teacher who was newly married and had moved here after seven years of teaching
in Palm Beach, Fla., would sexually touch a student.
Three jurors said afterward that they agreed with the defense attorney's view and were impressed that teachers traveled from Florida to testify to the defendant's good character. Mr. Cauffield, who was placed on administrative leave after his arrest, testified that he had cared for a younger brother with Down syndrome and often used a hands-on approach to focus his attention.
"It's very important to keep the students' focus," he told the jury. "The best thing to do is focus as many of their senses as possible and if possible to touch them . . . and they will focus on what you're talking about. To touch their hand, arm, shoulder -- staying away from areas that students are not comfortable with."
Asked by the prosecutor to explain why the girls would lie, he said: "I really can't. . . . I don't consider lying like that possible over grades or because you don't like someone. So for me, I cannot come up with a reason."