Panama City, FL -- One year ago today, eight former employees of the Bay County boot camp found out they were facing up to 30 years in prison in connection with the death of a juvenile offender.

On November 28, 2006, special prosecutor Mark Ober announced Henry Dickens, Charles Enfinger, Patrick Garrett, Raymond Hauck, Charles Helms, Henry McFadden, Kristin Schmidt, and Joseph Walsh were charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.

The eight were seen on a January 2006 surveillance video in which Martin Anderson, 14, collapsed and became unconscious on his first day at the boot camp. 

On October 12, 2007, a jury acquitted the eight defendants on all charges. 

News 13 sat down with Charles Helms, the highest ranking officer on the field the day Anderson collapsed.

"We're supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, and unfortunately we all felt guilty until proven innocent, and that's not the way the system works," said Helms about the media attention surrounding the case.

When asked if the trial was the most difficult part of his ordeal, Helms says, "No, I think the hardest time in my life is the time MLA passed away, that's probably the hardest time in my life. I'm very fortunate to have family members who are still alive. I have a mom and a dad, and I haven't had a loss like that as far as being that close to me."

"Like I told you before, these were our kids, and to have someone pass away like that in front of your eyes, and there's nothing you can do about it, is probably the worst time."

The Concerned Ministers and Citizens Coalition is holding a week-long protest of the not guilty verdicts.  The movement includes economic boycotts, political forum, and prayer meeting.  The efforts to show opposition to the verdicts ends Saturday with a March for Justice from Anderson's grave in the Redwood Cemetery to the Juvenile Justice Courthouse.