State Drops Sex Abuse Charges Against Former Newton Teacher

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts prosecutors say they won't go forward with state child sexual abuse charges against a former Boston-area teacher serving a 45-year federal sentence for participating in an international child pornography ring.

The Middlesex and Suffolk district attorneys announced Thursday they are dropping prosecution of David Ettlinger of Newton since he will be spending years in prison followed by lifetime supervision. The prosecutors said families of his three alleged victims didn't want their children to face a trial.

Ettlinger's defense attorney said he and his client feel prosecutors did the right thing.

Ettlinger had pleaded not guilty to state charges alleging he used the children to produce pornography. Authorities said none were his students at the Newton school where he taught for 12 years.

Ettlinger pleaded guilty to the federal charge last August and was sentenced in January.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.