Columbus businessman, CSU grad found not guilty of rape

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before acquitting the former Flournoy Development Co. chief financial officer of the accusation he had raped a woman on Dec. 8, 2007, at his Innisbrook Court home.

“The relief is just indescribable because of the extreme nature of the charge and the punishment,” said defense attorney Frank Martin. “We’re all relieved. He sustained some real damage in this.”

If convicted, Grantham would have faced a minimum of 25 years in prison without the chance for parole.

The 40-year-old was accused of getting into bed while naked with a woman sleeping at his home during a Christmas gathering. A prosecution witness testified Tuesday that the woman told him that when she woke up, Grantham was having sex with her.

On Wednesday, Martin argued that some of Grantham’s accusers gathered twice — days after the alleged incident — to get their stories straight. Martin called witnesses to the stand who said they wouldn’t believe the woman or accuser if they were under oath, the defense attorney added.

“We argued that the evidence was in such conflict that clearly, clearly we created reasonable doubt,” Martin said.

Grantham resigned from his job as senior vice president and chief financial officer with Flournoy Development Co. to prepare his defense, Martin said.

He is a certified public accountant and a graduate of Columbus State University. He served several years on the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant Board and was its treasurer for some time.

Assistant District Attorney Don Kelly said he was disappointed in the verdict.

“I felt we proved the case,” Kelly said. “These are extremely tough cases to win.”