(Worcester, Massachusetts) Scheduled for trial this week, middle school teacher Donna Giguere was able to walk free after prosecutors dropped child sexual assault charges.
Assistant District Attorney Cheryl R. Riddle filed a nolle prosequi or nol pros in the case today. A nol pros is an entry in the court record reflecting a prosecutor's decision not to proceed with a criminal case after charges have been lodged.Therefore, lack of cooperation from the victim blew the case apart. According to prosecution spokesman Timothy Connolly, "We certainly would have gone forward if we had the victim."
Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. discharged Ms. Giguere from her arrest after Ms. Riddle terminated the prosecution of the case.
“The Commonwealth states that despite the Commonwealth's due diligence in securing the attendance of the alleged victim, he has absented himself from the jurisdiction, refused to make his whereabouts known and has expressed via electronic mail his unwillingness to cooperate,” Ms. Riddle said in the nol pros.
Meanwhile, mother-of-five Giguere said her life has been a living hell. “My life was ruined three years ago.”
Massachusetts Teacher Denies Child Sex Charges
[Previous 4/21/07 post]
(Worcester, Massachusetts) Last January, a 38-year-old English teacher at Frederick Hartnett Middle School, Donna S. Giguere, was charged with repeated sexual assault of a male foster child under the age of 14 who was in her care. The alleged sexual episodes occurred between March 2003 and October 2004 and not on school grounds.
Yesterday in Worcester Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney Cheryl R. Riddle portrayed Giguere as a woman who grooms boys for sex. Defiantly, Giguere shouted "not guilty" to the six child-sex charges filed against her. She was arraigned on two counts of rape of a child, two counts of unnatural rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.Giguere remains free on $5,000 bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 18th.
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