Charges dropped against Calif. teacher accused of sex with minors

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- It took less than a minute to end a three-month nightmare for Amy Bramlett. The San Bernardino County D.A.'s Office dropped all charges against the 46-year-old educator, who was accused of having sex with two minors.

"I'm just relieved right now, and I'm just so thankful that this nightmare is over," Bramlett said outside the courthouse.

Her attorney, Michael Scafiddi, says the allegations against his client were outright lies made up by the accuser to cover up his role in a burglary at Bramlett's home.

"The first boy, in a panic, came up with a story. For his credit, he recanted that statement within hours to his father," Scafiddi said.

But even after the accuser admitted the truth, Scafiddi says investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office still moved forward with charges.

Bramlett, a program specialist at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino, was arrested and held on $1 million bail.

"The second person who came forward only did so after being manipulated in a police interrogation where he was treated more like a suspect than an alleged victim," Scafiddi said.

Despite it all, Bramlett says she holds no grudges against her two teenage accusers.

"I feel so blessed that despite this nightmare that I've found that I have amazing friends and supporters," Bramlett said.

Bramlett is hoping to return to her 20-year career in education. She does not plan to file a civil lawsuit against the teenage accusers, but she may file a lawsuit against investigators.