A Fayette man

accused of molesting his daughter on several occasions when she visited

him here was found not guilty by a jury Tuesday.

Phillip Edward

Higginbotham, 48, was found not guilty of two counts of aggravated child

molestation, two counts of child molestation and one count of aggravated

sexual battery.

Higginbotham

maintained his innocence after his daughter testified about the incidents

taking place in his bedroom on several occasions at his Fayetteville home

when she visited him from Texas, where she lived with her mother.

"The last

time I probably saw her naked she was probably 7 and in her bath tub,"

Higginbotham said.

The allegations

came to light after the victim told a friend at camp about the incident.

The friend told camp authorities, who contacted Texas child protective

services to report the matter.

The victim,

who is now 15, testified that she didn't originally come forward "Because

I didn't think anybody would believe me." She said when the incidents

occurred, she would tell him to stop and try to push him away.

"He told

me, 'You can't tell anybody,'" the girl said.

Her father

testified that they had a loving relationship. He also recalled her visits

here.

"If it

was just for a short visit, it was shop 'til you drop," Phillip Higginbotham

said. "... It became a routine to go get her fingernails done."