There's no evidence that this man was anything but "stellar in his approach" -- verbal, baseless accusations can hit anyone, even the most stellar. All that is needed, as you said is a verbal statement.
as you said it is guilty until proven innocent and "The man can always pick up and move to another area and start over again of he determines that’s his best course." -- the latter of which is false, no one can start again -- the baseless accusation will stick for life and the (wo)man will be haunted by the idea that people would accuse him/her of something so horrible.
Yes the man can move on with life...unless he chooses to let the episode eat it up.
None of us forgets the wrongful judgements made against us unfairly in life...but we do move on..life is going to bring them no matter how clean living you are. In fact expect it. I’ve had my share from people in the workplace to drivers giving me the bird when they thought I was in the way. I’ve been thru the court system on a property dispute which I lost for the politics in the community and who knew who better than I. Fair no...humiliating yes. Felt it and moved on...and we all must..but we don’t forget either.