SALEM – The district attorney’s office dropped child rape charges against a 60-year-old Peabody man because he died.Brian L. Peterson, 60, of 52 Pine St., Peabody, stood charged with three counts of rape of a child arising out of allegations that he sexually abused a girl at his home between May 30, 1990 and May 29, 1996, beginning when the child was age 10 until she was 15.In Salem Superior Court Thursday morning, Assistant District Attorney James P. Gubitose told Judge John T. Lu he was filing a “nol pros,” meaning he was dropping the case, because the accused has died.Peterson, who was scheduled to be arraigned, was found dead in his home on Sept. 14.He was indicted two weeks ago by an Essex County grand jury and faced a potential life sentence in state prison if convicted on each of the three charges.
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