Charges dropped against former school board member

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The case against a former Prince George’s County school board member accused of having sex with a 15-year-old former student was dropped by prosecutors Monday because of a technicality.

The documents filed charging Nathaniel B. Thomas, 26, with a third-degree sex offense listed the address where sexual acts between Thomas and the 15-year-old boy allegedly occurred at Thomas’ home.

On Monday, prosecutors said the act had actually taken place at another address, leading the defense to object to the charge.

According to a release from the Prince George’s State’s Attorney’s Office, Circuit Judge Sean D. Wallace did not allow prosecutors to amend the address on the charge, causing the state’s attorney to take an hour recess. Following the recess, an announcement was made that the state would not proceed with the case.

Thomas was unavailable for comment, but his attorney, Bruce Marcus, said his client was happy with the result.

“We’re just gratified that these proceedings are over,” Marcus said in a phone interview.

Although the case was dropped, the legal battle is far from over for Thomas, according to Ramon V. Korionoff, spokesman for State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey.

“This defendant will be recharged,” Korionoff said. “An address snafu does not let the defendant off the hook. We acknowledge this mistake, but we will correct it and re-charge the defendant in this matter.”

Marcus said he hoped the state’s prosecutors would “make the right decision” and leave the case alone.

The charges against Thomas stemmed from accusations that he committed sexual acts in 2004 and 2005 with a 15-year-old boy he had once taught at Forestville Military Academy. Elected as an at-large member of the school board in November 2006, Thomas resigned his post the day after his June 6, 2007, indictment. If convicted, Thomas could have faced up to 10 years in prison.

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