A Maryland court recently dismissed more than 25 counts of child molestation charges against a former Penn State early childhood and special education professor because key evidence in the case was ruled inadmissible in court.

Defense Attorney C. Thomas Brown said he filed to dismiss the case against John T. Neisworth, 67, because evidence obtained through wiretaps is illegal in Maryland.

The alleged victim recorded telephone conversations he had with Neisworth in 2001 about the alleged abuses, which were then used as evidence in the case.

Kevin Urick, the Cecil County, Md., assistant district attorney, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The victim, whose name is being withheld by The Daily Collegian because of the nature of the abuse, said he was angry about the decision and hoped Neisworth could be charged again in the future.

The alleged victim currently resides in Arizona and said Neisworth and two other men repeatedly abused him in several states, including Pennsylvania, while Neisworth was teaching at Penn State. He said the incidents continued between the time that he was 12 and 15 years old.

The other two men, Karl Goeke, 58, of Los Angeles and Donald A. Smith, 64, of Pittsburgh, had similar charges dismissed.

The alleged victim said he repressed memories of the abuse until about six years ago.

The alleged victim said he said he was not a university student, but said the abuse began because his family lived near Goeke, who introduced him to Neisworth and Smith.

Sexual abuse occurred during visits with Neisworth in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but the statute of limitations on child molestation had expired in those states by the time authorities had been contacted, the alleged victim said in February.

Alleged abuse had also occurred in Maryland, so the victim approached authorities in that state.

Maryland law states that both parties in a conversation must be aware that a conversation is being tape-recorded.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said Neisworth is still affiliated with the university through a distance-education course and his status has not changed as a result of the charges.

"[The charges] being dismissed is not a university matter," he said. "We weren't involved in the legal aspect of this case."