Prosecutors filed a request to dismiss the case against a Slippery Rock Middle School math teacher accused of fondling four of his students, according to court documents.

State police originally charged Robert P. Willison, 51, in October 2018 following an investigation sparked by a complaint filed in September 2018 through ChildLine, the state's avenue for people to report suspected child abuse. School administrators suspended Willison following accusations he inappropriately touched the buttocks of the schoolgirls.

But in the Wednesday filing, Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford, who is prosecuting the case for the Butler County District Attorney's Office, wrote that “due to circumstances beyond the commonwealth's control, it is requested a nolle prosequi be entered.”

The filing must be signed by Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCune before the case can be officially dropped.

“We weren't confident that we could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Pitchford said in an interview. “When we filed the charges, we felt we had good evidence. But as the case progressed, we felt the evidence got weaker.”

Pitchford declined to comment on how the case changed as time went on.

Responding to the news the case would be dismissed, Willison's lawyer, Eric Levin, said in a prepared statement he always believed in his client's innocence, and that “became even more apparent upon review of the evidence provided us as part of the criminal trial process.”

His statement went on to thank the district attorney's office for diligently reviewing all the evidence before reaching its conclusion.

“My client has vehemently denied the allegations and steadfastly maintained his innocence throughout the course of this matter” Levin wrote. “Mr. Willison remains a lifelong teacher who has dedicated his career to bettering our society through the education and sporting enrichment of our youth, specifically those in Slippery Rock.”

The Slippery Rock Area School District released a prepared statement in response to the news. The statement, signed by Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci, said the district does not comment on personnel matters. Willison's employment status with the district is unclear at this point.

“This criminal proceeding is separate and apart from proceedings regarding his employment with the district,” said Angelucci's statement.