White River Junction — A Windsor Superior Court jury last week found a 55-year-old Windsor man not guilty of molesting a young child who was in his care in 2014.

John J. Sughrue maintained his innocence throughout the three-day trial on a felony-level lewd and lascivious conduct charge.

“The people have no idea what pain this gentleman has been through. Investigators ignored sign upon sign that something was terribly wrong with the allegations in this case, and multiple theories consistent with Mr. Sughrue’s innocence were ignored,” Sughrue’s attorney, Brian Marsicovetere, said in an email this week. “The jury understood that, and Mr. Sughrue is grateful.”

Although Sughrue has been cleared of wrongdoing involving one child, he still faces four felony lewd and lascivious conduct charges involving the alleged molestation of two other young children.

“He is not a child molester, and looks forward to finally clearing himself of these allegations,” Marsicovetere wrote.

Deputy Windsor County State’s Attorney Heidi Remick called the jury verdict “disappointing.”

The case against Sughrue started in November 2014 when a woman told police her child was molested during an overnight stay at a house in White River Junction where Sughrue was residing, according to a police affidavit.

In an interview with law enforcement officers and a social worker, Sughrue denied touching the girl.

Following the woman’s complaint, authorities identified two more children who they believed were either inappropriately touched by Sughrue or were involved in inappropriate touching, according to the affidavit. Sughrue has pleaded not guilty to all of the allegations.

Sughrue faces four charges in connection with those allegations, and a second trial could start in late winter or early spring, Remick said.

Sughrue remains held at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield, Vt., on $10,000 cash bail.

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.