In a Marion County courthouse Monday, Hites-Clabaugh pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor harassment charge.
This effectively ends a three-year legal battle that started when a Woodburn third grader accused Hites-Clabaugh of molesting her behind a hallway door.
“This is a
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In a Marion County courthouse Monday, Hites-Clabaugh pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor harassment charge.
This effectively ends a three-year legal battle that started when a Woodburn third grader accused Hites-Clabaugh of molesting her behind a hallway door.
“This is a huge victory to go from sex abuse to harassment,” said Hites-Clabaugh’s lawyer, Mark Geiger.
“We would have preferred a complete dismissal, but you do the best you can.”
Her conviction of sex abuse of a minor was overturned in July after an appeals court ruled the judge had erred by not admitting an expert to testify on the importance of investigative protocol on sex abuse cases.
According to the appeal, an investigating officer admitted to following investigative procedure.
Still, charges against Hites-Clabaugh stood, as she awaited a decision from the district attorney’s office as to whether or not she would be retried.
She was released on a $50,000 bail in August.