Mayor Sheila Dixon's former chief spokesman - who was placed on leave after allegations of inappropriate behavior - is no longer under investigation, and no charges will be filed, the Baltimore County state's attorney's office announced yesterday.

Anthony W. McCarthy, who had served as a top aide and communications director to Dixon starting in January 2007 when she became mayor, said during an emotional news conference that he had done nothing wrong.

"I'm a cancer survivor, and I must tell you this rivals what I went through when I survived cancer. ... This has been horrible. Three months of pain," said McCarthy, 40, who broke down while speaking to the media. "I really did and do believe that truth wins out in the end."

McCarthy, who is on paid leave from the city, repeatedly said he hoped to return to his position at City Hall, but a spokesman for Dixon would say only that senior members of the administration plan to reach out to McCarthy in coming days.

"The end of this investigation must be a great relief for Anthony and his family," a statement from the mayor's office read. "We wish him success in the future."

McCarthy became the voice of the administration but also helped shape Dixon's image as an elected official willing to publicly address crises. As director of communications, he was paid $93,600 a year. City officials said he remains on the city payroll because he accrued weeks of leave time.

He left the mayor's office in November, and, at the time, Dixon said she was "shocked and disappointed to learn of the allegations" against McCarthy - though the specific nature of the allegations were never disclosed. Until yesterday, McCarthy had not returned calls from reporters. He said he also has not spoken with senior Dixon officials in months.

According to a redacted county police report obtained by The Sun under the state's open records law, a 16-year-old boy who belonged to a Baltimore church where McCarthy preached, Unity Fellowship, told a Department of Social Services worker that McCarthy had engaged in improper sexual contact with him when he was 15.

Baltimore County police officials said they could not release the name of the boy because a DSS investigation into the matter is still under way.

A spokesman for the Baltimore County state's attorney said he could not comment on the case. The office released a short statement confirming that it had "completed its review of an investigation regarding Anthony McCarthy and has determined that no criminal charges will be filed."

Before joining Dixon's administration, McCarthy hosted a weekly news roundup program on WYPR-FM that featured reporters, including those who work at The Sun.

At various times, he had worked for The Afro-American, Baltimore Times and Gay Life newspapers. McCarthy also served as Dixon's chief of staff for nine months in 1999 and 2000 when she was president of the City Council.

McCarthy, who survived three bouts with cancer, is openly gay and has worked as a reverend at Unity Fellowship for years - occasionally wearing his collar to city events. Yesterday, he warned that people should not jump to conclusions based on his sexual orientation and faith.

"Being an openly gay minister is not the easiest thing in the world to be. There's a lot of questions that come with that," he said. "I've done nothing wrong. I was accused of something and now it's over, and I would hope that I could go on with my life."

john.fritze@baltsun.com