Adair's 'Safari Joe' Estes Found Not Guilty Of Rape, Molestation

A Mayes County man known as "Safari Joe," charged with sexually abusing two young girls years ago, was found not guilty on Friday.

Joe Matthew Estes, 45, has had several animal sanctuaries over the years in Green Country, including Safari Joe's Wildlife Refuge near Adair.

The state asked for guilty verdicts and suggested 10 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

The defense told the jury in closing statements the accusations against Joe Estes stemmed from a nasty split with an ex-girlfriend.

8/2/2012 Related Story: 'Safari Joe' Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse

Friday's verdict was for one count of rape by instrumentation and one count of lewd molestation. A second case, with charges of rape by instrumentation, was separated to be tried later and involves a woman, not a child.

In January, a judge decided there was enough evidence for Estes to stand trial.

Known as "Safari Joe," Joe Estes has performed animal shows for several years at schools, churches and other locations.

The girls involved in the case were close acquaintances of his, not children he met through public appearances or animal shows. One of the girls was 10 or 11 years old at the time that she claimed the abuse started.

It is News On 6 policy not to release any identifying information about alleged victims of sexual abuse.