Aug 19, 2015 1 min read

Charges against a West Virginia man accused of trying to sexually assault a 15-year-old West Virginia boy have been withdrawn.

Benjamin Ryan Baker, 30, of Fairmont, W.Va., was charged with sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to a minor in April after the alleged incident on a camping trip in Centerville.

Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said the charges were withdrawn April 20 because the boy and his mother recanted their statements.

“If the victim said it didn’t happen, then it didn’t happen,” Vittone said.

Baker was arrested in early April by Centerville police after the boy told them that Baker started touching him while he was trying to go to bed, police said. The boy also told police Baker was drinking and that he gave him some of his alcohol to drink.

Vittone could not comment on whether the boy was charged for making false reports.