11/03/2007
from the Kennebec Journal
Sport of Kings
New Medicaid billing system inspires doubts among some
Christmas spirit
Guidance counselor: Dismiss complaint based on criticism of same-sex marriage
CHELSEA: 'Practice burn' provides thrill for 9-year-old
Trust eyes orchard purchase
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bonenfant rises up Cony ranks
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
YES ON 1 BACKER REBUTS CLAIM
New system for Medicaid payments worries providers
After petition drive, Clinton police force budget will go a third time before voters
A rock musician makes trip home via Black Taxi
MADISON: After revaluation, abatement requests reviewed
Parks to have facelift
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Sweet does job for Madison
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
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
Reader comments
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The number one priority is justice, and finding out what happened. When you investigate a criminal case with the presumption that the accused committed the crime, and the intention of proving him guilty, this is the outcome. When you try your damnedest to prove him innocent and can't, you avoid this.
Gross incompetence on the part of prosecutors, the mental health professionals treating the girl, and negligence on the part of the girl's parents, all conspired to screw this guy's life up. He should be compensated.
Was there ever any corroboration? Was there ever any witness to any part of this? Was there any physical evidence at all? Were the timelines examined and compared to known facts? Was the account "credible"? Apparently not, or Mr. Wiggins would be inside looking out.
Prosecutors and law enforcement officers are charged with a heavy responsibility. It is not to any individual specifically with regard to "protection" or "justice". Rather it is to enforce the law, responsibly and professionally.
We can come here and act like a bunch of outraged monkeys whenever someone is accused of wrongdoing against a child. We're the court of public opinion, and truly meaningless where justice is concerned. We have to hold prosecutors and law enforcement to a bit higher standard.report abuse
Nov 3, 2007 6:24 AM
We have to hold prosecutors and law enforcement to a bit higher standard.
Why wouldn't we demand they prosecute for a law that has been on the books FOREVER. Perjuryreport abuse
They should come out and publicly say the man is innocent.
report abuse
There is NOTHING anyone can do to give Mr. Wiggins back what he has so tragically lost. This young tramp has successfully ruined an innocent man's name, reputation, career and life, to include getting the dreaded and anti-male DHHS involved (again, under false pretenses!)
Turn around being fair play, why not sentence the tramplet to the same consequences that Mr. Wiggins might have faced had he actually done something wrong? Once again, the criminal (in this case, the lying child) will be given a pass on her actions.
When will this judicial lunacy be stopped? People need to be held accountable for their actions.
"Who watches the Watchers?"
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