Dr. Juan Gamboa contends there are no winners in a recent case that ended in an Aiken County jury finding him not guilty of child sexual abuse earlier this month.
Two weeks after walking away a free man, he calls the ordeal a "fiasco" that stemmed from the accusations of two young boys - accusations he vehemently denies.
"The South Carolina judicial system failed big time," Gamboa said in describing his January 2014 arrest and subsequent charges, two counts of lewd acts upon a child under 16.
"I was considered guilty from the very beginning," he asserted. "My reputation was affected in horrible ways."
According to testimony during the trial, Gamboa allegedly touched the accusers at separate times in their private areas when the children in question were 8 years old; however, Gamboa was found not guilty on both counts after the jury deliberated for only about an hour.
"My family - my wife, my son and I - we will forgive," Gamboa said, noting he has not had any contact with the accusers or other members of their family.
Gamboa, 54, operates a veterinary office on Gamboa Place in Aiken, which focuses mainly on equine health.
Originally from Colombia in South America, he has been a veterinarian for 23 years, according to his office's website; he became a U.S. citizen in the early 2000s.
His practice has suffered significantly after the charges were brought forward, he said, resulting in about 90 percent of his business being lost.
"I was extremely successful. I had a great practice," Gamboa said.
He also thanked all those who came out to support him, particularly Father Grant Wiseman, president of Mead Hall Episcopal Church.
"He was there even with his busy schedule," Gamboa said. "I just want to thank him and all my friends and family, as well."
Gamboa said he is unsure if he would pursue a wrongful prosecution lawsuit against Aiken County at this time but also indicated it isn't "off the table."
Second Circuit Solicitor Strom Thurmond Jr. indicated that his office wins 80 percent of the cases that are tried; and, whether successful or not, they simply recoup and focus on the next case.
"By the same token," Thurmond said, "where we came up short (in this case), we're not going to engage in antagonistic comments toward a litigant or his attorneys. We're going to remain professional. We're going to evaluate our performance and move forward."
Aaron Walsh, one of Gamboa's attorneys, said he believed the solicitor's office was negligent in its pursuit of understanding all of the details of the case.
"They didn't try to learn any of the facts," Walsh said.
Aiken investigators moved forward with charges on mere rumors and what others were saying in other states, Walsh said.
Gamboa was arrested in March 2014 on child sex allegations in Mississippi, but the extent of his arrest was not mentioned in court as to not contaminate the jury's decision in the Aiken County case, Walsh said. No date has yet been set for the Mississippi trial.
Michael Ulmer is a North Augusta native and University of South Carolina graduate.