Man still feels sting of false accusation

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By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

11/03/2007

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FARMINGTON -- A Smithfield man falsely accused in April of having unlawful sexual contact four years ago with a girl in Temple has said that even though the charges were dropped, his reputation has been tainted and he cannot find steady work.

John Wiggins, 41, who was charged with the felony crime, was formerly a basketball coach for a girls travel team for Farmington-area 5th and 6th graders, a program managed and coached by parent volunteers. He said he is currently employed as a temporary worker at a community college.

Assistant District Attorney for Franklin County, Andrew Robinson, confirmed Friday the charges against Wiggins were dismissed in August.

"After completing the entire investigation and reviewing all the evidence, the state was no longer confident it could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.

The alleged victim has since denied the assaults occurred and Wiggins passed a polygraph test he paid for himself, according to his attorney, Walter "Woody" Hanstein of Farmington.

Wiggins said the publicity about his arrest has marked him.

"This has had a big impact on getting a job. I applied for a full-time job and I was forthcoming about the charges. Even though I told people I had passed a polygraph test, it was nuclear -- no one wants to touch it," he said.

"People read about it in the paper and figure (the state) must have a case," he said.

Wiggins said his arrest complicated his divorce proceedings, a custody battle over his children, and brought in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

The agency directed deputies to make an arrest in April following the girl's accusation.

"The alleged victim was having significant psychological difficulties at the time she made the allegations about something that had occurred in the past and they were inconsistent with comments she made to counselors she was seeing for other issues," Hanstein said.

"She has absolutely denied anything like this has ever occurred," he said.

Hanstein, a former district attorney, said prosecutors are in a difficult position.

"They can't keep quiet if someone has access to children," he said. "I feel the number one goal is to protect the public."

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com

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chykyn of strong, ME

Nov 8, 2007 12:26 PM

It is a shame that the reporter did not get all the facts right. Such as why the state dropped its case. Basically a weaselly legal technicality. Why is he divorced? Why was he kicked out of his church? What about finding out why he really lost one of his jobs. This man plays the martyr quite well, he can be pleasant and very persuasive. Alas, that he is also devious and manipulative. It is quite shameful that so little of the truth was reported here. Some fact checking and a lot more background checking would certainly of been useful instead of believing a man who has discredited himself throughout the community. Shameful, shameful, shameful! Please try and report something closer to the truth next time before this man or someone just like him does more harm to the community or maybe you or your children.

Shorty14 of Farmington, ME

Nov 8, 2007 10:42 AM

The girl was never asked anything about any of this by the newspaper and they should get their facts straight. She NEVER said that it did not happen! It is slander to talk about a persons mental health when the abuse is what caused it. Here is a classic example of yet another person in the Farmington court system getting away with abuse whether it be sexual, or otherwise. Did anyone actually look into the character of this person, or are you just listening to a perpetrator run his mouth at the expense of the victim.

Leon Richard of Farmington, ME

Nov 4, 2007 11:00 AM

Hello Nelson, :) Contrary to popular belief, we're likely not so different as a reader might think. It's that way with most people. Deep down inside we all want pretty much the same things. Peace, safety, prosperity, and chums and loved ones around us. We have different ways of getting and assuring the continuation of these things. But we don't differ in our desires.

This man appears to have been mistreated by the system of justice that was developed to protect us from malicious rumors and baseless acccusations. There are many methods of investigation one can use to eliminate the unlikely, improbable, and impossible. I can't help but suspect that the trigger was pulled too early in this case. He was arrested and charged before the evidence was assessed and evaluated based on the merits.

The young woman is obviously disturbed, and doesn't deserve to be labelled a tramp, or anything else other than a perjurer.

This accusation, once levelled, can never be taken away. Prosecutors and law enforcement should be conservative with it. Children do tell stories sometimes, and may even divert responsibility to someone besides the abuser. "Someone is going to be in trouble, might as well be someone I don't love and who loves me back... even though he abuses me." Wacky psychoanalysts and counsellors don't help things at all either. Check them out before bringing your child to one, don't just trust a license. Joint sessions are a good idea as well, periodically.

RicknVA of Alexandria, VA

Nov 3, 2007 9:02 PM

"After completing the entire investigation and reviewing all the evidence, the state was no longer confident it could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.

So . . .why was he charged with the crime before the entire investigation was completed? Hell yea I'd sue the prosecutors. But that's what they do - to them it's a game as to which side will win and it's been seen over and over in this country how prosecutors will suppress, invent and withhold evidence - which I wouldn't be surprised happened in this case.

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