Posted on 10/03/2003 12:01:31 PM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
AUGUSTA — Just weeks before his 7-year-old daughter was allegedly assaulted by a man with prior assault convictions, Scott Durant told his little girl what to do if someone ever attacked her.
After hearing of an adult who tried to get some children to ride in a car, Durant sat his daughter down and said, "If somebody ever tries this on you don't be afraid. Be mad."
On Monday, when a man approached the girl and her two younger sisters while they played in their back yard, she fought back.
"She's tall and strong for a 7-year-old," Durant said. "I think she tried kicking (him)."
Darrell L. McCauley, a 22-year-old man who had been living in a facility that serves mentally ill men and women on Stone Street next door to the Durant home, was arrested Monday for probation violations, and also was charged with assault after he allegedly grabbed and kissed the young girl. He is being held at the Kennebec County jail.
He was previously convicted of assaulting a police officer and of sexual assault.
Police Chief Wayne McCamish said Thursday he would not release further information about the incident because he wants to speak to Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney Evert Fowle about the possibility of bringing additional charges against McCauley.
"I want more serious charges brought in light of the information I have in front of me," McCamish said.
Durant, an employee of the Jefferson School system, lives with his wife, Lisa, three daughters and a son in a duplex next door to the apartment complex at 92 Stone St. where McCauley was living for the past 1 1/2 months.
The Durants' three daughters were playing in their back yard when McCauley allegedly approached them. The youngest girls — a 3-year-old and 5-year-old — fled, while the 7-year-old stayed, Durant said.
Lisa Durant was paring apples in the kitchen at the time and ran to the yard when she heard the girls screaming. She said she found McCauley assaulting her daughter.
Durant, who is eight months pregnant, worked to pry McCauley away from her daughter as employees from Employment Specialists of Maine — which operates the home in which McCauley lived — intervened and helped to restrain him until police arrived.
Scott Durant said he was proud of his daughter for not being a "passive victim." He said he later asked the girl how her sisters got away.
"She said, 'I stood there to fight him so that they could get away,' " he said.
McCauley's probation officer, Roy Gutfinski, said Thursday that McCauley had been receiving assistance from two ESM employees at all times. They were responsible for making sure he ate, went to bed on time and didn't leave the facility.
At the time of Monday's alleged assault, Gutfinski said ESM personnel were investigating a chemical smell in the building away from McCauley.
Gutfinski said ESM is not responsible for going after its clients or restraining them, but is required to call authorities when a situation arises similar to the one Monday.
Augusta Mayor William Dowling's response to the event, calling for better oversight of people with dangerous pasts being released into local neighborhoods, has been an encouragement to Durant and his family.
"I'm pretty touched by that because people have been on this case that I'm not even aware of. Other people have picked up the ball," Durant said.
When he and his family moved into their home in July 2002, the neighboring building was vacant. The family learned through rumor about four months later that the complex would house people with mental illness. No formal information was given to them about McCauley.
Lisa Durant said had she known about McCauley's history, she would not have allowed her children play in the back yard.
"It's only lucky that the incident didn't go any further," she said. "We as parents have worked so hard to preserve their innocence. To have it go further, it would have been dashed in a matter of seconds."
While Durant said she respects the special needs of the mentally ill, she wants the apartment complex next door to be closed.
Gutfinski also said the state should provide a better type of facility, with security alarms and tighter oversight, to house such people as McCauley, who need extra monitoring.
"There needs to be a change in the system," he said.
I am hard to anger, a slow fuse. But G_D help the one who pushes me too far. I will not tolerate rudeness in a man.(or a surly bartender).
FMCDH
I have three daughters; 3, 4 & 9 years old.
Recently it seems that everything is wrong. There seems to be a working element in society (beyond just the dems) thwarting all that is good and protecting all that is evil. The mere fact that someone such as the 22 year old mentioned in this article, can coexist with the rest of society is beyond troublesome.
I certainly do.
Wow. From a 7 year old? This girl is going places. She's a leader for sure.
And not deeply saddened...
and if knocked down hook one foot behind his heel, and snap his ankle with the other.
It really slows them down chasing her when she gets up...
I'm pretty extreemly proud of her but I often wonder what she would do in a situation like this. We've had a few discussions and pray it never happens but she understands that she has to be prepared for the time it could.
Poor b@st@rd would stand no chance. Good Story.
Heroism, pure and simple.
A wise father.
On Monday, when a man approached the girl and her two younger sisters while they played in their back yard, she fought back.
A brave child.
Darrell L. McCauley, a 22-year-old man who had been living in a facility that serves mentally ill men and women on Stone Street next door to the Durant home, was arrested Monday for probation violations, and also was charged with assault after he allegedly grabbed and kissed the young girl.
A SYSTEM SO STUPID THAT ONLY A DEMOCRAT COULD HAVE THOUGHT OF IT!
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