Another chapter is closed in the long, strange tale of the Elmo sex scandal. Kevin Clash, the puppeteer and voice behind Sesame Street's beloved red monster, has been cleared of three charges of improper sexual relations with teenage boys.

The U.S. Court of Appeals, the last stop for the Elmo accusers, threw out the charges because they were outside the statute of limitations, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

New York law requires plaintiffs in cases of sexual abuse of a minor to file within six years of the alleged abuse taking place or within 3 years of the victim turning 21.

A New York judge dismissed the case for the same reason in July 2013.

The accusers—or, as you may remember them, Elmo's three friends—include Cecil Singleton, who says he met Clash on a gay sex chatline in 2003, when he was just 15; Kevin Klaadi, who claims he had a relationship with Clash in 2004; and a John Doe.

Clash claimed any relationships he may have had with the men occurred when they were adults. He reportedly settled with another accuser, Sheldon Stephens, in 2012.

Clash left Sesame Street in 2012, after voicing Elmo since 1985 and seeing him become one of the most popular characters on the show.

[Photo: Getty Images]