Vinnie Jones acquitted of assault

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., May 15 (UPI) -- British former pro soccer player-turned-actor Vinnie Jones was acquitted Friday of misdemeanor simple assault in Sioux Falls, S.D., court officials said.

Jones, 44, was arrested last December after he was allegedly involved in an altercation at Wiley's Tavern.

He subsequently pleaded innocent to the charges.

TMZ.com quoted the actor, who has appeared in "Snatch," "Gone in Sixty seconds" and "X-Men: The Last Stand," as saying he took the stand to "tell it how it was" and was confident "the jury would do the right thing."

The jury acquitted him of the charges Friday, the entertainment news Web site said.