Sexual assault charges against a former Cortez police officer have been dismissed.<\/p>\n
District Attorney Will Furse confirmed late Sunday that his office would not pursue charges against Ryan Carter, stating via email that the court granted a prosecution\u2019s motion to \u201cdismiss the case without prejudice.\u201d Furse filed the three-paragraph motion on Feb. 6. District Court Judge Todd Plewe approved the motion to dismiss on Feb. 6.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter thorough investigation, it has been determined that the essential witness is unwilling to testify,\u201d Furse wrote in the motion.<\/p>\n
Without cooperation from the witness, the motion further states that it would be \u201cmorally impermissible\u201d for prosecutors to rely on \u201cextensive use of impeachment\u201d evidence to prosecute the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccordingly, the state is moving to dismiss in the interests of justice,\u201d Furse wrote.<\/p>\n
Furse declined further comment when contacted on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Carter, 29, has maintained his innocence on five counts of sexual assault on a child since his arrest last summer. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing in December. His trial was set to start in April.<\/p>\n
The former Cortez Police Department officer was arrested after the alleged 14-year-old victim told authorities that she and Carter had three sexual encounters. According to the arrest warrant, Carter also allegedly engaged in inappropriate text message conversations with the girl, now 15 years old.<\/p>\n
After his arrest, Carter resigned from the police department via a jailhouse resignation letter before posting a $100,000 bond. He had been employed with the agency since 2011.<\/p>\n