Former Penn State cornerback Willie Harriott was found not guilty of driving with a suspended license Tuesday, his lawyer, Kelley Gillette-Walker, said, adding Harriott now hopes to return to the football team.

"Willie -- he's a good person, he's dedicated to being a student and a football player. ..." Gillette-Walker said. "This is an unfortunate roadblock in this process, but he feels vindicated that he's prevailed in this case."

Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson said Thursday he was not aware of any change in Harriott's status with the football team.

"He is not on the team," Nelson said.

District Judge Jonathan Grine made the not guilty ruling because of a lack of evidence, Gillette-Walker said.

The charges stem from a September incident in which Harriott was initially pulled over when Penn State Police noticed the vehicle's rear license sticker was expired. Police later charged him with driving with a suspended license.

Harriott, 21, of New Haven, Conn., was dismissed from the football team on Sept. 4 after an announcement from Joe Paterno on his weekly radio show.

"Willie got himself into a jam the other night and won't be with the team," Paterno said in September.

The September incident was Harriott's third run-in with police. He was charged with DUI last November and received an underage drinking citation in August of last year. Harriott has since enrolled in the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program (ARD).

Staff writer Josh Langenbacher contributed to this report.