Child molestation charge dropped

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FARGO (AP) - Prosecutors say they are dropping the last charge against a former Fargo YMCA day care worker accused of molesting girls last summer.

A jury cleared Jatten Heinen of five felony charges earlier this month.

State's Attorney Birch Burdick said Monday that prosecutors met with the family of a girl whose allegations were the basis of the last charge, and decided to drop it.

"Certainly after him being acquitted, we are left with the belief that it might have been a very difficult case to prove," Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Leah Viste said. Child molestation cases in general often rely on the word of the accuser and little physical evidence, she said.

Defense attorney Bruce Quick said earlier that authorities were too quick to charge Heinen. He testified in his own defense and denied the charges in court.

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