Charges against Minnesota mayor dropped

Charges have been dropped against a small-town Minnesota mayor who was accused of raping a female acquaintance, after her credibility was called into question, Forum News Service reports.

Sexual assault charges had been brought in May against Steve Sortland, the mayor of Halstad, Minnesota, a town of about 600 people north of Moorhead. He took a leave of absence from the job in June.

But Norman County Attorney James Brue dismissed the charges Friday, citing insufficient evidence for a conviction, Forum reported.

"I always knew the charges were false," Sortland said, Forum reported. "So, personally, this was just a matter of time letting the legal process take its course until my innocence was proved."