Charges Dropped Against Anthony Boyd in Bishop Eddie Long Church Break-In Case

ATLANTA - A former New Birth Missionary Church security guard has been exonerated of all charges after being accused of burglarizing Bishop Eddie Long's office.

Anthony Boyd, 21, became a central player in a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by four young men against Long.

Boyd had maintained he was innocent. Boyd says he had nothing to do with stealing jewelry, an iPad and iPod from the Bishop's church office back in June of last year.

After much consideration, DeKalb County District Attoey Robert James dropped the charge Monday.

James makes it clear, Bishop Eddie Long's August 26th letter   -- along with Boyd's status as a defendant -- had a lot to do with his decision.

"If he had not asked me, I would not have made the decision. In cases like this, we respect the victim's wishes," James said. "We look at the age of the defendant, a young man. We look at the fact that the defendant had... no criminal history at all. We looked at the fact that we are talking about a property crime, not a violent crime."

Boyd's attoey had made it clear that he was going to call Bishop Long to the stand. Those familiar with the case say Long didn't want to testify.

Jamal Parris is one of four young men who sued Bishop Long for sexual misconduct. Parris, who was not involved in the burglarly, and others told the FOX 5 I-team the reason for the break-in was to gather evidence against Bishop Long prior to filing the lawsuits.

Boyd was not part of the lawsuits and says he is grateful to Bishop Eddie Long for writing the letter asking the district attoey to drop the burglary case against him.

Boyd says he has been in the middle of this national storm for almost two years and is glad to put this case behind him.He says he was laid off from Newbirth as a security guard, but will begin working as a custodian at Georgia State this week.