A Loudoun family court judge has dismissed the criminal charge filed against a Loudoun County Public School teacher who was alleged to have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile student at Park View High School.

The dismissal occurred Feb. 28 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on a motion of the Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joshua Steward, which stated there was a lack of sufficient evidence to corroborate the allegations.

Kimberly L. Winters, of Sterling, was charged Nov. 9, 2018 with taking indecent liberties by a custodian based on the allegations of a Park View graduate who claimed that he had a sexual relationship her while he was a juvenile, between September and November in 2017. The allegations were asserted to be supported and verified by the graduate’s phone and e-mail records. Additionally, the graduate’s mother claimed that she had copies of allegedly incriminating phone and e-mail records.

Further investigation by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and Winters’ defense team at Westlake Legal Group included forensic analysis of cell phones, e-mails, and internet records for both Winters and the former student. They found no evidence of criminal conduct with the graduate while he was a juvenile and showed only limited contact, which appeared to be school-related. When confronted with the lack of phone and e-mail support for the allegations, the graduate’s mother told investigators she had been “bluffing.”

Winters had denied any criminal conduct or actions with any juvenile and passed two separate lie detector tests during the investigation.

According to a statement issued by her defense attorney, Winters consistently insisted that she never had, nor ever would, act inappropriately with a juvenile, and feels vindicated by the dismissal. “At this time, she is exploring her options, but feels the ordeal will make it extremely difficult for her to return to the classroom,” the firm stated.

Under Loudoun County Public School policy, Winters has been on unpaid administrative leave since her arrest. Her attorney, Thomas K. Plofchan said that while she is expected to regain her back pay, her future in the classroom remains uncertain because of the allegation and the publicity surrounding the case.