SALISBURY, Md.- A 41-year-old teacher who was arrested last year for sexually abusing a minor had all charges dropped against her in Wicomico County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning.

Forty-one-year-old teacher Carole Leigh Mayers of Eden was indicted by a Circuit Court grand jury in December on 16 charges that included sex abuse of a minor, sex offense and showing/distributing obscene material to a minor. But on Tuesday, all those charges were dismissed at the request of Bruce M. Smith, a special prosecutor from Harford County assigned to handle the case. 

"In my opinion the prosecutor, finally, once he was able to put together all of the information, partially the information that was presented by us, that he was able to make the right decision, which was to dismiss the charges against Mrs. Mayers," said Andrew MacDonald, Mayers attorney.

Smith would not disclose exactly why the charges were dropped but he did say that it was due to a procedural problem or legal technicality. He also said the decision to dismiss the charges had "nothing to do with the guilt or innocence of Mayers." According to Smith, the case remains under investigation.

Mayers, who worked a music teacher at Salisbury Christian School, a private Christian institution, was arrested in November following allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a now 17-year-old former student.

According to court documents, Mayers had been accused of committing the alleged offenses between May 2006 and December 2007, while the student was a sophomore and later a junior at the school. Mayers had maintained her innocence and had pleaded not guilty to the alleged offenses.

Some parents who spoke with WBOC say they are happy that the charges were dropped.

"The school has been praying for her and her family and we are just happy for her. This is what was meant to be and I'm sure that everybody is happy about that," said Danialle Kenney.

After learning that the charges were dropped against Mayers, Salisbury Christian School Headmaster James T. Fox Jr. issued the following statement, "Salisbury Christian School learned this morning that all criminal charges against Carole Leigh Mayers were dismissed by the state of Maryland without further explanation.  

"Mrs. Mayers' suspension from her employment at SCS remains in effect pending receipt of further information regarding the circumstances of the dismissal of the charges.  In order to protect the rights of all parties, no further comment will be forthcoming at this time."