Unalaska, AK – Charges have been dropped against a Coastguardsman accused of sex assault in Unalaska earlier this month.

24-year-old Freddy Lugo, a second-class petty officer on the Kodiak-based cutter Alex Haley, was arrested on New Year's Day for allegedly raping a woman at the Grand Aleutian Hotel. He was charged with first and second degree sexual assault.

Magistrate Vincent DiNapoli dismissed the charges against Lugo on a Rule 5 violation. The rule requires that the state bring a felony case before a grand jury within 10 days of charges being filed, which didn't happen in this case.

The case is dismissed without prejudice, which means that the state still reserves the right to bring charges at a later date. Attorneys for the prosecution and defense weren't available for comment today.