Recap: Thomas Dodd Newton was arrested Nov. 1 and charged with 18 counts of false imprisonment. Newton put a knife to his throat during a production class and then asked someone to call the FBI.

According to court dockets, all charges again Thomas Dodd Newton, the former Loyola student who held a knife to his throat during class last November, have been dropped.

However, neither Newton, nor his family or lawyer, were aware of this.

The district attorney’s office refused all 18 counts of false imprisonment with a weapon on April 2.

Newton was released on a $20,000 bond on the condition that he receive inpatient psychiatric treatment.

Kyle Schonekas, Newton’s lawyer, said, it would not surprise him if all charges had been dropped.

“I suspect [the district attorney] realized that Dodd was suffering from an illness and didn’t intend to harm anyone,” Schonekas said.

“Typically if they were going to do something with it they would have contacted me,” he said. “I welcome it as good news.”

Newton is now at home with his family and said he is doing much better.

“I’ve moved back to my home state; I’m a full time student. I really didn’t miss that much school, and all my credits transferred,” he said. He added that he is now working two jobs.

Newton’s mother, Marilyn Seaton, said the family is focusing on the positive. She said that the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, was helpful.

“Father Wildes was just as caring and compassionate as he could be … he was truly gracious, loving and so supportive of my son while balancing his interest in the school,” Seaton said.

Phil Seaton, Newton’s stepfather, said the family is grateful for Loyola’s support.

“They’ve shown true support and sympathy for the difficulty Dodd went through,” he said. “Dodd is doing very well in school, and we’re very proud of him,” he said.

Newton’s friends said they agree with the Seatons’ assessment.

Evan Lieberman, marketing senior and president of the BEGGARS fraternity, said that Newton is much better.

“After he left, we were all pretty sad, but we kept in touch with him. He’s in school, he’s got a job … he’s pretty much back to the way he was before,” Lieberman said.

Communications junior Mary Jackson was in the class with Newton. She said she was unaware that charges had been dropped.

“I am pretty surprised, but I’m glad he’s gotten help and is getting better. I knew he wasn’t going to hurt any of us, but it is a pretty incredible thing to be held hostage in a classroom,” Jackson said.

She said that the event was “a big deal,” but added that it has not seriously impacted her.

“I haven’t really seen that many of the students in my class. I think we’ve all moved forward; it’s good to move forward.”

Kelly Brown can be reached at [email protected].