A Liberty University professor accused of sexually assaulting a student has had one of the charges against him dropped.
William Atwell, a sign language professor at the school charged with sexual battery and abduction by force or intimidation, made a court appearance on Tuesday regarding his charges. During his appearance, the abduction charge against him was dropped by the court, according to ABC13.
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When asked whether Atwell would be allowed to teach at the school again if his sexual assault charge was also dropped, a spokesperson at the school told the Washington Examiner that a final decision cannot be made “until the university’s own processes are complete.”
“Liberty University takes nothing more seriously than claims that a faculty member has had inappropriate sexual contact with one of our students, something for which there is zero tolerance,” a Liberty University spokesperson told the Washington Examiner regarding Atwell’s arrest in December.
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The professor was arrested on Nov. 20, 2021, and charged with assaulting and kidnapping a student on campus. A spokesperson for the school said the university had turned the matter over to the “appropriate legal authorities” when he was arrested and suspended him pending the case’s outcome.
Atwell is next scheduled to appear in court sometime in March.
