Sex charges against a former math teacher at a Vina, Ala., high school were dismissed after she married the student with whom she allegedly had a sexual relationship.
Kimberly Dawn Bynum was indicted on felony charges in 2011 for her alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old high school senior. Bynum's trial was postponed at least once before the teacher, who was 29 at the time of her arrest, married the student.
In a motion filed July 2 to dismiss the charges against Bynum, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing stated that neither the alleged victim, nor his family, nor local law enforcement wanted the trial to go forward, according to ABC affiliate WAAY.
Additionally, the documents noted that the husband of the accused planned to invoke marital privilege should the case against Bynum have gone to trial, which would have further complicated prosecution, the station reported.
The age of consent is Alabama is 16, but laws prohibit educators from becoming sexually involved with students under the age of 19, according to the Franklin County Times.
Bynum's relationship with the student reportedly began as a friendship, but eventually turned sexual, the newspaper reported in 2011. The teacher continued to date the student after he graduated in May of that year, and she was arrested a month later.
Had Bynum been convicted, she would have faced two to 20 years in prison.
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