DA drops charges against North Hills teacher accused of improperly touching student

The Allegheny County District Attorney has dropped charges against a North Hills School District elementary teacher accused of inappropriately touching a student.

The DA’s office on Tuesday declined to comment on the specific reasons why the charges were dropped against Nathan Buttenfield, 42, of Gibsonia.

“The only reason we gave the court was that we could not proceed at this time,” said spokesman Mike Manko.

The district placed Buttenfield on unpaid leave last year and prohibited him from being on school property after the alleged incident was reported to authorities in November.

Ross police said Buttenfield taught physical education and health at Highcliff Elementary, which has students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Buttenfield was charged with indecent assault, institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, child endangerment and corruption of a minor.

Buttenfield had denied the accusations and his lawyer Bill Difenderfer had said the alleged victim appeared to have been coached before testifying at the preliminary hearing in December. A judge at the hearing ordered Buttenfield to stand trial.

Difenderfer was in court Tuesday and could not be reached to discuss whether Buttenfield wants to return to the classroom, according to staff at his Pittsburgh law office.

District officials declined to comment on whether Buttenfield will be allowed to return to work.

“As a district, we do not comment on personnel matters,” said spokeswoman Heather Pelat.