The Hillsborough County Attorney has dismissed all pending charges against James Cheney, a 21-year-old Dover man who had been charged in March with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault by the Weare Police Department.

DOVER - The Hillsborough County Attorney has dismissed all charges pending against city resident James Cheney, 21, who had been charged with Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault by the Weare Police Department.



The charges were dismissed Thursday.



Through his attorneys, Cathy Green of Manchester and John E. Durkin of Dover, Cheney, of 9 Snows Court, challenged the charges at a probable cause hearing in the Circuit Court. After the case was transferred to the Hillsborough County Superior Court, the Hillsborough County Attorney's conducted further investigation, considered evidence of Cheney's innocence provided by his counsel, and dismissed all charges.



In a press release issued Monday by Attorney Durkin, the following statement was made: “We are very grateful that the Hillsborough County Attorney's office conducted a thorough and prompt investigation into these allegations and considered information that we were able to provide them.



"James has maintained his innocence at all times and is now vindicated by the County Attorney's decision to drop all charges. This has been a very difficult period for James and his family, but their confidence in our system of justice is reaffirmed.”



On June 13 it was announced Prosecutors in Hillsborough County had decided against pursuing some of the misdemeanor charges brought against the Dover man originally accused of rape. County and police officials would say why those charges were dismissed.



Cheney, the son of Dover City Councilor Catherine Cheney, and another man were charged with sexually assaulting a young woman at an apartment in Weare and holding her against her will between March 12 and March 13.



Cheney and the second suspect, 20-year-old Tyler Janvrin, allegedly met the victim in Dover. Police said they drove the woman to Janvrin's apartment on Daniels Road in Weare, where it was reported the assaults took place. The victim then sought treatment at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital after she was transported back to Dover.



Cheney has been free on $25,000 cash bail.