Prosecutors drop charges against Gorham man accused of raping 7-year-old boy (conspiracy of lies?)

wmtw ^

[chance33_98]

Prosecutors drop charges against Gorham man accused of raping 7-year-old boy 
Thursday, June 27, 2002, 12:43 PM 
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By JENNIFER SULLIVAN NewsRadio WMTW 870 AM/1470 AM/106.7 FM

PORTLAND -- Prosecutors have dropped charges against a Gorham man accused of raping a 7-year-old boy and say at least one of the other people who accused him of sexual assault was lying.

The investigation into the charges against Thomas Wright also uncovered "a distressing pattern of allegations by members of the Faith Baptist Church" in North Yarmouth, Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson said in a prepared statement issued Thursday morning. Anderson said she would answer questions about the case at a press conference scheduled for 1 p.m.

Wright, a former Sunday school teacher, was arrested in April on a charge of gross sexual assault involving a 7-year-old four years ago. But there is "insufficient credible evidence," Anderson said.

She said other allegations made by members of the Faith Baptist Church were based on memories recovered during counseling with Pastor Wes Harris, who allied himself with Wright's wife in a contentious divorce and custody proceeding.

"Since these abuse allegations occurred in counseling with Pastor Harris, his bias and the unconventional therapeutic methods he employed to recover these memories would be a substantial issue in a trial. In addition, those who reported abuse were provided details of the claims of others. Given this, there is no untainted evidence of abuse by Mr. Wright," Anderson said.

According to Anderson, Wright left Faith Baptist Church in 2000 and then insisted that his wife leave in June of 2001.

"The investigation revealed that only after Wright challenged the manner in which Pastor Harris practiced his ministry, six church members claimed abuse by Wright. The first member to claim she was abused by Wright was initially counseled by Pastor Harris, after which she disclosed details of her allegations with church members during a church family meeting.

"Following that meeting, other church members were then counseled by Pastor Harris. After those counseling sessions, they also claimed to have been molested by Wright. During the investigation the first member to claim she was abused by Wright was polygraphed about the allegation, and the test indicated deception."

Harris declined to comment when contacted by NewsRadio WMTW Thursday morning.

Anderson said "many current and former members" of the Faith Baptist Church gave information to investigators.

"Without the information they provided, the investigation could not have revealed the facts which require the dismissal of this case," she said.

[chance33_98]

An aritcle worth noting...

[VOA]

She said other allegations made by members of the Faith Baptist Church were based on
memories recovered during counseling with Pastor Wes Harris, who allied himself
with Wright's wife in a contentious divorce and custody proceeding.

Looks like an interesting case: has the volatile combination of using "the nuclear
option" of child abuse to get leverage in a divorce case plus the "recovered memory"
scenario that often is just so much hokum.

(Although I concede people can repress horrid events, only to be haunted by them later;
it's disreputable therapists I'm ragging on here.)

[DoughtyOne]

the Case of the Freeper FRiva Feva is under scrutiny - super-sleuths are welcomed
come resolve the way to yesterday's Target Post, you're not out of the running yet
win your registration fees to the FRive Las Vegas Conference if you dare

[Doctor Stochastic]

Perhaps those (found guilty of) making false accusations should get the same penalty that the accusee would have received. (Of course with juries determining penalties too, this may not work.)

[white trash redneck]

And how does Mr. Wright go about getting back his reputation, not to mention the last four years of his life. I hope he finds a really good lawyer.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The only people who are deserving of more ruthless punishment than those who commit crimes such as the one alleged here, are those who falsely accuse people of committing them, or induce others to make false accusations.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Unfortunately, his reputation in is probably tarnished in Gorham. forever. A good lawyer may win him $$ for slander but nothing will ever convince many people that he isn't guilty. It sounds like he was ganged up on and persecuted by his own church - true (self-righteous) Christians that they are.....

[Pompah]

I do believe that the "Good Pastor" Harris should gather his
little flock around and mabey brush up on the ol' Ten Commandments. Paying close attention to number eight.