FARIBAULT — Attorneys say charges have been dropped against a former Faribault prep school teacher accused of sexually abusing a student in 1980.

Rice County prosecutors say too much time has passed since the alleged offense involving Shattuck-St. Mary’s art teacher Joseph Machlitt. The 63-year-old St. Paul man was charged in November with two counts of criminal sexual conduct. He was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy at the prep school more than three decades ago.

Defense attorney Anthony Torres argued the statute of limitations in place at the time prevented Machlitt from being charged. The law has since been changed.

Machlitt is the third former teacher at the school to be accused of sexual misconduct. One is still being prosecuted and the third committed suicide.