By the time the judge read the amended charges to allow former Penn State football player Scott Paxson to plea no contest to disorderly conduct, the woman who had accused him of sexual assault had already left the courtroom.

The accuser never returned from the small room that Centre County District Attorney Lance Marshall took her to during a 45-minute recess before she was scheduled to testify.

"She is upset," Marshall said. "I am worried about her today, but she is a strong woman."

Paxson stood as the judge read the amended complaint against him.

His lawyer, Joseph Amendola, said that the decision not to go through a two-day trial was a benefit to everyone.

"I am glad it's over," Paxson told the judge. "To get on with my life."

Centre County Judge Bradley Lunsford agreed with Paxson, saying he was glad it was over for the accuser, who sat restlessly in the front row of the courtroom in the farthest bench from Paxson's chair. Amendola said although Paxson does not admit any wrongdoing, he was happy to spare the accuser of testifying in the case, which is one of the reasons he signed the plea bargain.

"Paxson has always maintained innocence in the sexual assault matter," Amendola said.

Amendola said Paxson hopes to sign a contract with a NFL team in the near future.

He said the teams had been waiting for him to be acquitted before signing him on.