CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — The case against the former principal of Star Middle School for injury to a child was dismissed on Tuesday.
Court records show the case was dismissed upon a motion of the prosecutor and then later closed.
Tony Nelson, the former principal, was charged with two felony counts of injury to a child after an indictment on May 9, 2019. The state accused Nelson of withholding food from children and hitting them. Nelson was later placed on leave. His wife, Pamela Nelson, had her two counts of injury to a child removed and pleaded guilty to one charge of disturbing the peace, court records show.
Michael Bartlett, Nelson's attorney, issued a statement Tuesday morning: "Today, over three and a half years after it began, the case against former Star Middle School Principal Tony Nelson was dismissed by the Canyon County Prosecutor's Office. The State has now acknowledged Tony and his wife Pam faced a very difficult and complicated situation involving two children the couple adopted from Bulgaria and, based on what is now known, dismissal was warranted."