The former Lakeland police officer accused of forcing a woman to have sex with him while he was on duty was found not guilty of one charge on Wednesday night, but guilty of another.



A jury found Julio Pagan not guilty of sexual battery, but guilty of stalking after an hour of deliberating. Pagan was sentenced by the judge to the time he has served in jail, and he was released shortly after.

"It was a crazy ride and I'm just glad it's over," said Pagan.



"You never know how a trial is going to turn out," said Defense Attorney Kelly Collier. "I've been doing this for 38 years. I've guessed wrong more often than I've guessed right so I don't even try to think what's going to happen until it happens."



Pagan's family expressed their relief after his release, saying they were worried about what could happen.

"Fifteen to life is a very long time," said brother David Pagan. "Especially for somebody who loved his job. I could never see him doing anything like that."

Pagan said he's not sure what he's going to do next. His immediate plans include a nice dinner and spending time with his 3-year-old son.

"Just pick up the rest of my life," said Pagan. "You know, I don't know what to say."

Pagan said he does not harbor any resentment about what happened.

Prosecutors left court without commenting on the verdict.

Pagan takes the stand during his trial



During trial on Wednesday, attorneys for Pagan said he did have sex with the woman but that the encounter was consensual. Pagan reiterated that while on the stand.



Pagan's arrest was one of several last year during a department-wide sex scandal involving employees and officers. Pagan was charged with two counts of armed sexual battery and one count of aggravated stalking.



The prosecution rested its case Wednesday morning.



Pagan was the first defense witness called to the stand. Pagan discussed how he and another officer responded to a drunken fight the woman was having with her daughter the first time he went to the home.



"I spoke to them," he said. "Chit-chat with the kids. But while I was talking to them, I was looking in the rooms, making sure their rooms were clean, their clothes we're not dirty and that they didn't have any bruises or insect bites.



"Just making sure they were okay."



However, the woman said repeatedly Tuesday the sex wasn't consensual. She testified Pagan returned to her home after taking her daughter to a friend's house to cool off from the fight. The woman said Pagan pressured her for sex, and she complied so he would leave.



"He kept bothering me for it," she testified. "He just kept pushing and pushing. Just wouldn't stop, you know, over and over and over."



When the prosecutor asked what she thought would have happened if she said no, the woman said, "I don't know. I don't know."



Pagan said the woman brought up having a casual relationship while they were outside.

"And then she asked me, would I be interested in what she called 'friends with benefits,'" Pagan said. "She said, 'I don't want a boyfriend. I just want someone who will come by once and a while.'"



Pagan testified that the woman led him into her home.



"She grabbed me and she pulled me into the doorway," he said.

Pagan also went into detail about the encounter inside a bathroom that he said were initiated by the woman.

Attorney: Did you do anything at all to compel her to do this in any way.

Pagan: No

Attorney: Did you say anything to make her feel that if she did not have sex with you that something. That there would be some kind of consequence?

Pagan: No I did not.

