Charges against freshman Terrapin men’s basketball player Jordan Williams were dismissed yesterday by the Connecticut state superior court.

Williams, 18, was facing third-degree assault and breach of peace charges — both misdemeanors — for his role in an Aug. 8 altercation in his hometown of Torrington, Conn., involving four other teenagers. All five had charges dropped in the Bantam Superior Court and will have their records automatically expunged in 13 months, meaning Williams is able to go back to his life with no criminal background and no pending charges against him.

Williams could not be reached, and family members declined to comment. But Williams’ lawyer, Bill Stevens, said the result was expected.

“I did not expect that it would have to go to trial,” Stevens said. “I’ve been doing this for 28 years, so you get a feeling for how these cases will formally resolve. My thought was that there was a couple of ways this could be resolved — [nolle prosequi, in which the state’s attorney declines to prosecute] was one of them. Either way, Jordan would not have a criminal record.”

It all started with a series of text messages.

Based on an affidavit released yesterday, with the names of the three minors involved redacted, which includes six sworn statements — four of the five participants and two witnesses — a loose outline of the events of the night can be deduced.

One girl described as Williams’ girlfriend, either 16 or 17 years old, and another minor girl traded malicious messages heightening a prior conflict. The two agreed to meet in local Alvord Park on the night of Aug. 8.

When they arrived, one girl attempted to end the fight, according to the testimonies. But Williams’ girlfriend was persistent. As a result, the girls ended up fighting.

At some point early in the confrontation, Williams arrived at the scene. He said he had been at a friend’s graduation party in his statement.

Soon after the physical fight broke out, Williams pulled one of the girls out of the pile. Williams and the two uninvolved witnesses said Williams grabbed ahold of his girlfriend, while the three others said Williams grabbed the other girl. That girl said Williams kicked her in the hip, as well.

All of the witnesses agreed the girl’s brother, 16, then approached Williams, angry about how the 6-foot-10, 260-pounder had involved himself. Williams and a witness claim that, in arguing, Williams flailed his arms and accidentally struck the brother. The brother and sister said Williams punched the 16-year-old boy.

Following the strike, the boy’s sister punched Williams in the face. Police confirmed a small cut and bruise under his eye.

The only other adult, 19-year-old Jennifer Guerrero of Torrington, had watched the altercation unfold. After the punch, she started yelling, Williams said. He said he told her to shut up, then she threw dirt in his face. Then he spit out the dirt while facing in her direction.

Guerrero said she and Williams argued, leading to the two “chest butting each other and pointing fingers at each other,” according to the statement. Guerrero said Williams then spit in her face, then everyone got in their cars and left.

“The case is done: Jordan and four others were arrested,” Stevens said. “There’s a difference in opinion as to what happened. All five are getting the same treatment. None of them were people with prior records. The prosecutor reached the decision that the fair thing to do was to nolle all five.”

Williams turned himself in after hearing of a warrant for his arrest in his home state on Sept. 26. He was scheduled to go to an arraignment yesterday, but had it pushed back to Oct. 26, according to The Washington Post. In the end, though, the state’s attorney’s office interjected, and Williams did not have to go to trial.

The center will be allowed to rejoin the Terps with Maryland Madness and regular practices kicking off Oct. 16. Coach Gary Williams issued a statement last night, after being informed of the proceedings.

“We’re happy this has been resolved,” the statement read. “Jordan is an outstanding person and a student-athlete who is a great representative of our basketball team.”

ajoseph@umdbk.com