1:20 p.m. - Central Time

Waylon Graham, the attorney for Charles Helms Jr., said he was happy with the verdict, but felt strongly for Anderson’s family.

“I’m very sorry about what happened to their son. It was a true tragedy, but these men did not commit a crime.”

He said some of them had to file for bankruptcy to pay for their legal fees, and most of them just want to get away from all of this.

Graham said that a local state representative, Jimmy Patronis, has said he will sponsor a bill so that the state will pay for the drill instructors’ legal fees. Asked what the drill instructors are going to do tonight, Graham laughed.

“We’re going to have a party later,” he said. “We’re probably going to drink a lot of alcohol and smoke a lot of cigars.”

Regarding those who are upset about the verdict, Graham said he is certain they will act civilly.

“We have a good community here and they are going to behave admirably because they always do.”