The veteran ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson has been acquitted for lack of evidence. On Friday, a judge dismissed the charge facing Donaldson saying that he was arrested and charged without a “probable cause”.

The judge, while dismissing the charge, said that the arresting officer’s report was incomplete and improperly administered. Referring to the records from the traffic stop, the judge noted that the records “give the court pause as to the accuracy of the information the court has received.”

This comes as great relief to the 79- year-old Donaldson who was seen profusely writing notes during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the jubilant former anchor said that he was “clearly happy it turned out this way.” He said, “I’ve never been a defendant in a case before.” Donaldson was pulled over on December 1, 2012.

During the witness testimony presented by arresting officer Katie Couchman of Lewes Police Department, the court heard that Donaldson was driving on the shoulder of the road, to the right of the westbound lane, and when approached, he smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot, and glassy. But when Donaldson was asked why he was not driving on the roadway, he said that he thought he was. However, many inconsistencies were noted in the report leading to the dismissal.

Donaldson worked as ABC White House reporter between 1977 and 1989 and then again from 1997 to 1999.  Donaldson has had career in broadcasting dating back from 1952.

(image via Wikipedia)

source delawareonline.com