LEBANON — Authorities have dismissed the rape charge and released David Ghysels, the former star athlete from Springboro, who has been held in the Warren County Jail since May 9.

On Thursday, May 15, Warren County Judge Joseph Kirby ordered Ghysels, 20, of Springboro, released after prosecutors obtained "text messages that make it clear that this was not a rape," County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel said.

Prosecutors reviewed the text messages and re-interviewed the 16-year-old Miamisburg girl who accused Ghysels of raping her in North Park in Springboro, Hutzel said.

While dropping the rape charge, prosecutors brought a contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge against Ghysels in Warren County Juvenile Court. The rape charge was a first-degree felony, while contributing to the delinquency a first-degree misdemeanor. He will not be held on the new charge, pending an appearance in court.

"The parents are ecstatic they're getting their son back," said defense lawyer Christopher Cornyn and a member, along with Ghysels' family, of the Springboro Baptist Church.

"There's been a lot of praying going on," Cornyn said.

Ghysels was held on $750,000 bond, despite pleas for a bond reduction by Cornyn, opposed by prosecutors.

"At the time, we didn't have that evidence. At the time, we had her statement," Hutzel said Thursday.

In 2006, Ghysels was honored as the Division I first-team catcher for the second straight year on the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Ohio team.

He attended Bemidji State University in Minnesota to play football and recently transferred to play for the University of Dayton.

He has been admitted to UD, but is not currently enrolled, officials said.

UD spokeswoman Teri Rizvi said there would be no spot on the team until the criminal charges were resolved.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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