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Man Acquitted Of Abusing Toddler In Hot Clothes Dryer; Defense Blames Sleepwalking Mother

TRAVERSE CITY (WWJ/AP) - A 33-year-old man accused of putting a child in a dryer has been acquitted after the defense argued that the boy's mother did it while sleepwalking.

Dustin Holdaway was acquitted Thursday in a Grand Traverse County court. Two previous trials ended in mistrials

Assistant prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told The Traverse City Record-Eagle  that she was surprised jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes.

Moeggenberg argued that Holdaway put his girlfriend's toddler in a dryer and turned it on earlier this year. But defense attorney Stephen Kane told the jury that the boy's mother did it "in her sleep."

Moeggenberg says the boy is no longer with his mother. She says he's fascinated by dryers, a sign of post-traumatic stress.

No further proceedings are expected in the case.

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