Sex charges dropped against former Cleveland High teacher who married student

ONEONTA, Ala. (AP) — Charges have been dropped against an Alabama teacher accused of having sex with a student he later married.

Blount County Circuit Court records filed Wednesday say the woman is an essential witness in the case against 38-year-old Matthew Shane Wester and has refused to testify at his trial. District Attorney Pamela Casey says the state can't prove an essential element of the case without the woman's testimony.

The Associated Press generally doesn't name alleged sexual assault victims.

Wester was charged with being a school employee and having sexual contact with a student under 19 years old. Judge Dennis Odell ruled last week that the marriage does not protect the woman from testifying against Wester.

Wester taught math at Cleveland High School and married the 18-year-old student after he was indicted.