Jim Thornton Gets Surprising Defender Amid ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Controversy - Yahoo

Authorities did not arrest or charge him, according to the source.

Sony subsequently ended its working relationship with Thornton after conducting its own investigation.

Beach stressed that he did not claim to know whether Thornton had done anything wrong. Instead, he objected to social media users presenting their conclusions as established facts.

“I’m not saying I know Jim is innocent,” he wrote.

Beach argued that people criticizing Thornton also lacked complete information about what had happened.

“‘Innocent until proven guilty’ shouldn’t just be something we say when it’s easy,” he added.

Beach also explained why the controversy had affected him personally. He considered Thornton one of his heroes and said the allegations did not erase what Thornton’s career had meant to him.