In Boston, prosecutors have dropped a number of the criminal charges filed against carnival worker Jeffrey Witham. The 19-year-old who was accused of raping two teenagers, ages 13 and 14, in Marshfield, had been charged with two counts of statutory rape, two counts of rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery of a child, as well as kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Witham is accused of having sex with the young girls after meeting them at the carnival. Police arrested him after the father of one of the girls reported the alleged sexual attacks.
Since then, one of the girls has recanted her accusations against him and the other girl has revised her account of the incident. Following the dropped charges of one count each of rape of a child with force, kidnapping, and assault and battery, Boston Superior Court Judge Joseph Walker released Witham from jail and said that the teenager will only need to post the $50,000 bail if he violates the conditions of his release. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges after it concluded that there was not enough evidence to support them being filed.
Bail had initially been set to $150,000 until the girls’ revised their accounts of what happened. One girl even admitted to having consensual sex with Witham. The 19-year-old’s criminal defense attorney says he is the victim of a ‘set-up” by the young teens.
Judge sets Jeffrey Witham free, BostonHerald.com, August 23, 2008
Fair Worker Released When Some Charges Dropped, WCVBTV/TheBostonChannel.com, August 22, 2008
Authorities drop some charges against Marshfield Fair rape suspect, Boston.com, August 21, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Sexual Assault and Rape, Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, Mass.gov
Mass Law About Rape and Sexual Assault
Massachusetts Law About Sex
If you have been charged with rape or any other sexual crime in Massachusetts, there may be evidence that could allow for the charges against you to be dropped or reduced. Our Boston criminal defense attorneys would like to talk to you.
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