Charges Dropped Against ROTC Instructor Accused Of Having Sex With Student

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- The charges against a Howard County ROTC instructor were shocking.  Police accused him of having sex with a student.  But now those charges have been dropped.

Weijia Jiang reports that instructor is speaking out for the first time.

Sgt. Charles Moore's nightmare is over.

"Today has been a blessing.  I thank God he's seen me through this, that it's finally a closure for my family and I," Moore said.

Last May, the 52-year-old Atholton High Junior ROTC instructor was accused of having sex with his 17-year-old student inside a school closet multiple times.

On Tuesday, the state dropped all charges.

"If the evidence isn't there, we're not going to suggest the person to a crapshoot that maybe he would be found guilty.  Maybe he wouldn't," said Howard County State's Attorney Dario Broccolino.

The case went to trial in November but jurors were deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial.  Prosecutors say  their case for a new one unraveled when the accuser's testimony became inconsistent.  They say while semen was found at the scene, it wasn't Moore's.

Moore says his next move is trying to get his job back.  He says for the majority of the time he's been suspended from the school system, it's been without pay.  He taught at Atholton for six years after retiring from a 20-year career in the Army.  The father of two says support from loved ones got him through this harrowing ordeal.

"I'd like to thank my family, my friends, former students, current students, parents who have stuck by me through this," he said.

Moore was charged with the sexual abuse of a minor and fourth-degree sex offense.