Charges Against Minnesota Professor Have Been Dropped

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped all charges against a University of Minnesota law professor accused of sexually assaulting and stalking a woman.

Fifty-four-year-old Francesco Parisi of Minneapolis had been in the Hennepin County Jail for three weeks after being charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and stalking. The Star Tribune reports he was released Tuesday night after his bail was reduced to $3,000 after a hearing.

In a statement Thursday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said prosecutors dismissed the charges against Parisi "in the interest of justice." Freeman says efforts by authorities to corroborate allegations against Parisi "were unsuccessful."

Parisi's attorney, Barry Edwards, had called the charges baseless.

Parisi has taught law at the university since 2006. A university spokesman says Parisi remains an active employee but is focusing on research and will not be teaching the rest of the semester.