BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Mychal Bell, a U.S. black teenager accused of beating a white classmate, was released from custody Thursday, after his prosecution triggered a massive protest last week, media reported.

    Bell was released after a juvenile court judge set his bail at 45,000 U.S. dollars. His release followed an anouncement from a Louisiana prosecutor that he would no longer seek an adult trial for the 17-year-old.

    "We will now go forward in juvenile court," said LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters.

    Bell still faces juvenile court charges of aggravated second-degree battery and conspiracy to commit that crime.

    "We still have mountains to climb, but at least this is closer to an even playing field," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who helped organize last week's protest.

    Bell is among six black Jena High School students, known collectively as the Jena 6, who were arrested in December after beating a white classmate unconscious at their high school after three white students hung three nooses from a tree on the campus.

    Four of the defendants were 17 at the time, which made them adults under Louisiana law.

    Those four and Bell, who was 16, all were initially charged with attempted murder. Walters has said he sought to have Bell tried as an adult because he already had a criminal record, and because he believed Bell instigated the attack.

    The aggressive prosecution of the black students prompted a rally in Jena by more than 10,000 people last week.

    Many said they were angry that the students were being treated more harshly than the three white students.

    A district judge earlier this month tossed out Bell's conviction for conspiracy to commit second-degree battery, saying the matter should have been handled in juvenile court. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles, Louisiana, did the same with Bell's battery conviction in mid-September.

    Walters said his decision not to appeal was based on what he believed was best for the victim in the case and was not influenced by the demonstration.

    Bell was the only one of the Jena 6 behind bars. Bell's lawyer, Carol Powell Lexing, said his next hearing is set for Tuesday.

    (Agencies)