James Johnson, 21, had been in jail under a $1 million bond until September when a local prosecutor handed the case over to an assistant district attorney in Forsyth County.
Johnson was charged in the 2004 death, rape and kidnapping of 17-year-old Brittany Willis of Wilson.
Special Prosecutor Belinda Foster dropped the charges against Johnson sighting a lack of evidence.
Johnson, who maintained his innocence, now is charged with accessory after the fact of the death.
Kenneth Meeks was convicted in the slaying and said he committed the crime with Johnson, but later recanted his statement. Johnson told police he went to the crime scene with Meeks and to a car wash to clean Meeks' vehicle.
The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP attended Friday's court hearing. The civil rights group and his family are calling for all charges to be dropped. "At this point, if justice is to be truthfully served - he has to be exonerated," Arthur Johnson, Jame's father said.
Johnson's next court appearance is scheduled for January 4.
