The Butler County District Attorney’s office withdrew charges of indecent assault of a minor and related charges filed in 2024 against a Clay Township man because the alleged victim does not want to testify in court.

A petition to not prosecute Cecil Hallin, 44, was filed and granted Friday in Common Pleas Court.

The petition to not prosecute Cecil Hallin, 44, filed by Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford states it was filed in the best interest of the child victim. District Attorney Richard Goldinger said he was told the child lives out of the state and is not willing to testify.

Judge Joseph Kubit granted the petition Friday in the Court of Common Pleas.

A hearing scheduled for Friday on defense attorney Dachan Furnace’s motion to dismiss the case because Hallin’s right to a speedy trial had been violated was also canceled.

Furnace said prosecutors are required to bring a case to trial within a year of the filing of charges and the district attorney’s office exceeded that time by 152 days.

Furnace said she never believed there was enough evidence to warrant the filing of charges and she said Hallin has maintained his innocence from the beginning.

“We’re glad it’s done, but he shouldn’t have been charged because the evidence was very weak,” Furnace said Friday.

State police charged Hallin with felony charges of indecent assault of a person under 13, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children; and a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure.

The charges were filed after police received a ChildLine report in May 2024 which stated a foster child under Hallin’s care reported abuse to his mother.

Police alleged that between Dec. 28, 2023, and May 23, 2024, Hallin forced the child to watch pornography, taught him to masturbate and committed multiple acts of sexual abuse. The child detailed the alleged abuse in a forensic interview conducted by the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lawrence County in June 2024.

“We’re glad the matter has come to a close and the charge are dismissed,” Furnace said.