Ex-Athletic Director Cleared of Charge

Updated: Wednesday, 18 Jan 2012, 10:02 PM CST
Published : Wednesday, 18 Jan 2012, 10:02 PM CST

HOUSTON - Thirty seven minutes â€" that’s how long it took a Harris County Jury to find former NFL player Gregory LaFleur not guilty of soliciting prostitutes.

The charges stem from an incident in April 2011 when LaFleur was the Athletic Director of Southern University â€" Baton Rouge.

He was in Houston for the Final Four and scouting for a new basketball coach. At the same time, the Houston Police Department was conducting an undercover prostitution sting and

That’s when an undercover officer approached LaFleur.

“He was alone, she appeared to be alone.

“He was hoping she would come with him to have dinner, but it was a very brief conversation," defense attorney Steve Gonzales said.

The undercover officer recorded that 45-second conversation, and that was the basis of the prosecutor’s case.

But the jury ultimately acquitted LaFleur of any charges.

Now, his attorney said LaFleur is just trying to get his life back.

"You’re not the same person at the end of the process versus the beginning," attorney Jed Silverman said.