LARGO, Fla. — The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office has officially dropped all child porn-related charges against a Seminole man who was previously facing life in prison and he was set free on Wednesday.

The charges of child porn possession, promoting sexual performance by a child, lewd and lascivious molestation, and video voyeurism were dropped against James Rybicki, 63, on Tuesday.  

Last week, Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Fugate asked Judge William Burgess for more time to try to find new evidence against Rybicki. The judge agreed to give the state two more weeks and a final hearing was set for December 6.

That hearing has since been cancelled and Rybicki, who was out on a $320,000 bond, had his ankle monitor removed Wednesday morning.

Prosecutors could not proceed with the case after Judge Burgess granted a motion on November 1 to suppress all evidence obtained from a search warrant that included photos and a video of Rybicki molesting a 10-year-old girl in 2014.

Despite the charges being dropped, in Burgess' written order, he stated: "The defendant is morally unworthy of this windfall exoneration."

Rybicki's attorney, Lucas Fleming, insists, however, that in this instance what occurred was the proper outcome.

"I think justice was served," Fleming told us. "As I've said before, the fourth amendment is alive and well in Pinellas County. I think Judge Burgess certainly illustrated that in his order."

According to court records, the two main issues were that Detective Michael Alvarez lied about the child not having consent to go to Rybicki's home and he along with a prosecutor did not tell Judge Thane Covert that statute of limitations had likely run on the false imprisonment charge.

"Our home is our castle," Fleming explained. "We want certain protections for people just to be able to come into our house for any reason. That was not done the right way in this case." 

Rybicki moved from his Seminole home where the alleged abuse took place and has since been living in Largo. He is not a registered sex offender, so he is now free.

Fleming went on to say he hopes judges will think of this case when law enforcement and prosecutors present them with warrants to search someone's home.

"Please be very mindful of what's happening here and asking the right questions of law enforcement to make sure that something like this does not happen again," he said.

Fleming said Rybicki has dual citizenship from Panama, but has not decided if he's going to remain in Pinellas County or move to that country.