Jury acquits former Montana football player

Jul 10, 2009 - 1:13 AM HELENA, Mont.(AP) -- A California jury has acquitted former University of Montana cornerback Jimmy Wilson of homicide charges for the June 2007 shooting death of his aunt's boyfriend.

Los Angeles Superior Court officials say Wilson was acquitted Thursday and freed from custody. He had been jailed on $2 million bail since his arrest on June 12, 2007.

Wilson was charged with shooting 29-year-old Kevin Smoot of Lancaster, Calif., on June 2, 2007. Court records say the shooting occurred during a confrontation at the home of Wilson's aunt.

Wilson's attorney, Jerome Bradford, argued that his client was acting in self defense.

Wilson started 14 games in 2006 for Montana.