The Clatsop County grand Jury has decided not to indict a Seaside High School teacher and coach on third-degree sex abuse charges more than a month after he was arrested.

The grand jury found there was insufficient evidence to file charges against Jon Broderick, 58, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl, after a five-hour hearing Monday at the Clatsop County Courthouse.

No charges will be filed, District Attorney Josh Marquis said. End of story.

Friends and acquaintances who know Broderick as a popular teacher and soccer coach say theyre happy with the grand jurys decision.

Jay Speakman, a long-time friend and co-founder along with Broderick of the FisherPoets Gathering, said he received news of the grand jurys decision Monday evening.

It came as a relief, he said.

I know the character of my friend Jon, and I dont think he was treated fairly, Speakman said.

Speakman said the allegations weighed heavily on Broderick since his arrest Jan. 19.

The two made it out to the FisherPoets Gathering Saturday to perform together and Broderick appeared in better spirits, Speakman added.

Broderick was arrested after a female student at Seaside High School talked to her mother about her relationship with teacher, according to the Seaside Police Department.

The implication was that there was a burgeoning, improper relationship between the two, though details of the relationship are unclear.

Oregon law states that sex abuse occurs when someone subjects a person to unwanted sexual contact.

Because the girl was younger than 18, the legal age of consent in Oregon, she couldnt give consent.

But law enforcement officials didnt uncover evidence that anything sexual occurred between Broderick and the girl.

Following the arrest, Marquis began implying that the evidence didnt add up to make a case against Broderick.

Convening a grand jury for a misdemeanor is rare, Marquis said. In this case, he added, it was necessary to parse out the details of a visible case.

Fewer than 10 people testified at the grand jury hearing, a private session to evaluate accusations. According to Seaside Police incident logs, six subpoenas were served at Seaside High School and adminstration buildings between Feb. 21 and 23.

Its still unclear whether Broderick violated the school districts policies.

Doug Dougherty, superintendent of the Seaside School District, said he would not comment on whats next for Brodericks status as a teacher.

He said he would not comment on the process of reviewing whether Broderick violated school district policies.