Jury Clears Cabbie in Sex Case

A jury on Wednesday found an Evanston cab driver not guilty of sexually abusing a 25-year-old Rockford woman last year.

The Cook County jury deliberated for about five hours before acquitting 55-year-old Fred Batrony.

Batrony was charged with criminal sexual abuse and aggravated kidnapping for allegedly attacking the woman in the back of his cab last July 4.  Prosecutors said Batrony sucked the woman's toes and forced her to spit on him and touch him.

The 5 feet 4 inch, 115-pound woman, who testified Monday, said Batrony forced her to touch him, but said she resisted when he tried to pull her on top of him.

She said that after the attack, Batrony drove her to her destination and sped away. The victim called a friend for support and then police.