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Log inNO CASE, HE WALKS FREE
NO CASE, HE WALKS FREE
by Outspoken on Fri May 23, 2008 3:53 am
NO CASE, HE WALKS FREE
BY BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel
A former Waterville man freed Wednesday night spent four months in jail before prosecutors dismissed the charges against him on the eve of his trial.
Frank Gonzales, 53, of Unity walked out of the Kennebec County jail after District Attorney Evert Fowle, concluding authorities couldn't prove the charges against him, filed a dismissal of all eight charges.
Gonzales was accused of violating a Jan. 11 protective order taken out by his wife; and of assaulting her, damaging her property and burglarizing her Waterville residence Jan. 12.
Gonzales was to be tried Thursday on the charges in Kennebec County Superior Court.
John Alsop, the lawyer hired several weeks ago to represent Gonzales, said his client had an alibi he said was proven by phone records provided to the district attorney's office.
Alsop said a lie detector test performed by Maine State Police Wednesday afternoon also indicated Gonzales was telling the truth when he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Alsop said Gonzales initially was arrested Jan. 11 and charged with violating a protective order by calling his wife.
But Alsop said it was she who called him.
After Gonzales was released on bail, he was rearrested on Jan. 12 after his wife said he was in Waterville damaging her property.
"No way he could have been in Waterville, because he was in Unity using the phone," Alsop said.
Alsop said prosecutors agreed to dismiss all charges against Gonzales if he passed a lie detector test, which was administered Wednesday afternoon by Maine State Police.
Faced with phone records and some "inconsistencies regarding the timing of the event," and "the possibility that the perpetrator was not the defendant," Fowle said he was forced to drop all charges against Gonzales.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5086950.html
BY BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel
A former Waterville man freed Wednesday night spent four months in jail before prosecutors dismissed the charges against him on the eve of his trial.
Frank Gonzales, 53, of Unity walked out of the Kennebec County jail after District Attorney Evert Fowle, concluding authorities couldn't prove the charges against him, filed a dismissal of all eight charges.
Gonzales was accused of violating a Jan. 11 protective order taken out by his wife; and of assaulting her, damaging her property and burglarizing her Waterville residence Jan. 12.
Gonzales was to be tried Thursday on the charges in Kennebec County Superior Court.
John Alsop, the lawyer hired several weeks ago to represent Gonzales, said his client had an alibi he said was proven by phone records provided to the district attorney's office.
Alsop said a lie detector test performed by Maine State Police Wednesday afternoon also indicated Gonzales was telling the truth when he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Alsop said Gonzales initially was arrested Jan. 11 and charged with violating a protective order by calling his wife.
But Alsop said it was she who called him.
After Gonzales was released on bail, he was rearrested on Jan. 12 after his wife said he was in Waterville damaging her property.
"No way he could have been in Waterville, because he was in Unity using the phone," Alsop said.
Alsop said prosecutors agreed to dismiss all charges against Gonzales if he passed a lie detector test, which was administered Wednesday afternoon by Maine State Police.
Faced with phone records and some "inconsistencies regarding the timing of the event," and "the possibility that the perpetrator was not the defendant," Fowle said he was forced to drop all charges against Gonzales.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5086950.html
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
