COVINGTON, Ky. — A northern Kentucky jury has acquitted a former teacher of a charge she had sex with a student.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports the not guilty verdict was reached Friday afternoon after a four-day trial. Former Dayton High School teacher Nicole Howell had testified Thursday that she hadn’t even held the student’s hand or allowed him to touch her.

In opening day testimony on Tuesday, the former Dayton High School football player testified that four or five sexual encounters with Howell were consensual. At the time of the alleged incidents, the boy was 16 and Howell was 25.

Defense lawyer Eric Deters has said the boy made up the story so he could brag to his friends.

State statute was changed last year to criminalize teachers having sex with students under 18.

The age of consent in Kentucky is 16.