Ronald Jackson, 36, was found not guilty by a judge in Dallas, who said there was insufficient evidence.

Mr Jackson was arrested a few hours after confiscating his daughter’s phone and refusing to give her it back after he found a rude text message on it.

However, the girl’s mother reported the incident as theft as the girl is the owner.

Mr Jackson posted a $1,500 bail but was later given a citation for theft. He refused to pay and took his daughter, now 15, to court.

He also kept the phone.