http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121009/NEWS02/710099888
Christopher Barrett, 21, of Bellows Falls faces up to life in prison if convicted after he reportedly confessed to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.
Photo: ERIC FRANCIS PHOTO
Published October 9, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Man pleads innocent to sexual assault of teen girl
By ERIC FRANCIS
CORRESPONDENT
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Saxtons River man is facing the potential of up to life in prison if convicted after detectives in Springfield said he confessed late last week to the sexual assault of a teenage girl in their town.
Christopher Barrett, 21, of Bellows Falls was ordered held for lack of $50,000 bail Monday after he pleaded innocent to felony counts of nonconsensual sexual assault and sexual assault on a victim under the age of 16.
Springfield Detective Allison Novasel wrote in her affidavit that investigators opened the case in early August after the mother of a 15-year-old girl called police saying that her daughter had tearfully awoken her to tell her that Barrett, a long-time family friend, had come into her bedroom and assaulted her.
The girl told investigators she was taking medications at the time because of an injury that were making her drowsy and when Barrett came into her room and allegedly began kissing her she was “shocked, confused and frozen” and then “let it happen” as Barrett allegedly began assaulting her.
Novasel said when Barrett voluntarily came to the Springfield Police Department on Friday to be interviewed he was “shaking and stuttering his words” as he gave his account of the incident. Novasel wrote that “Barrett appeared to be remorseful for his actions,” and his account appeared to match that given by the girl to investigators.
Novasel included a handwritten and signed note of apology from Barrett to the girl’s parents in her report to the court which Barrett appeared to have written, with frequent misspellings, including a portion which read, “I know wat I did was wrong and that I heart your family. I know that it was stupied of me to do wat I did…”
Judge Robert Gerety declined the state’s request to hold Barrett without bail, citing his lack of a criminal record and his lifelong ties to the community. He did however set bail at $50,000, noting that the potential penalties on one of the two felony charges now facing Barrett range from a minimum of three years to life in prison if he were to be convicted.
we don't need this as an article.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of person writes an article about this kind of stuff? and why do YOU choose to re-print it?
the kid made himself a target of latent adult molestation which often takes it's form with Newspaper Staff and Municipal Employees.
DeleteLooks like the investigators used the standard ploy of telling the person to write an apology letter, and then using it as confession. Basically we have two kids here, and one is about to get his life destroyed.
DeleteI’m disgusted, did anyone stop to think about the victim hear? This is a small rural area where everyone knows everyone. Seeing as the girl is a minor, you would think editors would have the decency to be discrete about what they publish!
DeleteWhat's wrong with reporting this incident? Bravo. I constantly critize the SPD but not this time. We should be kept aware of issues, no matter how painful.
ReplyDeleteWhat 'kid' ? He's 21 years old. He's a man.
ReplyDeleteAn Eric Francis wrote the article. Good for him.
And "Eric Francis" is known to write what ever he hears and is often wrong. Amazing he has a job.
DeleteYou know that came from the court right?
DeleteOH, C'MON..... Eric Francis FAILS with every court case he writes about. He Fails to write a balanced article.
DeleteWe call his style of writing "Court Noir"
Yeah he's a man who is five years older than his alleged victim. The investigator got him in a room and probably informed him that the mother was going to press charges for sexual assault, but that he could square it all by writing this apology letter to the girl who may or may not look 16 and everything would probably be okay. Next thing he knows the apology letter is being used as confession that he sexually assaulted a minor.
DeleteI think it is terrible how you people are makeing assumptions about a situation wear you dont even KNOW the FACTS!
DeleteI knew the guy in this story several years ago. I think he has Asperger's Syndrome. I also think he suffers from some mental deficiencies. Doesn't excuse what he did, but it explains some of his behaviors in the police station. Don't want to make excuses for him, but from what I remember, he was a kind, peaceful, polite kid. Hard to believe that what he did was 'forceful'. But I could be wrong. Again, still doesn't excuse him for his actions; everyone needs to be accountable.
ReplyDeleteI wish to see an attorney try and use Asperger's Syndrome as a defense. Easy enough to discredit, finally getting the slackers using it as a disability excuse off the back of us working stiffs.
ReplyDeleteBarrett may consider himself fortunate. If that child was any kin of mine, jail would be the least of his fears.
"Alleged victim" is the key here. Has anyone else noticed how teenagers are now days? Kids now are so promiscuous that it's frightening. Maybe Barrett is a "kind, peaceful, polite kid." Maybe he's not very bright. Maybe the teenage girl was the aggressor & is lying.
DeleteI don't like slackers using disability as an excuse to not work while I'm working every day. This case is up to the courts to decide who's right or wrong. Either way his life is ruined.
Yup, 8:56 that pretty much sums it up.
DeleteA developmentally and physically handy caped child is in the safety of her own home, with her family, and after being heavily medicated goes to sleep in the security of her own bed. When a trusted adult, who knows her age. Is fully aware of her conditions, and inters her room uninvited and assaults her. I don’t care if she looks 18, or if they are only two years apart in age. When an adult man climes on top of a minor girl that is his choice! A very wrong choice, but his choice just the same!
DeleteAmen 5:32
ReplyDeleteMy son has Asperger's Syndrome. He also holds a job, never calls in sick and is a productive member of his community. Yes...he also gets disability. Anyone who calls those who have been diagnosed with Asperger's (or any of the ASD) is obviously (and sadly) uninformed. Where did you get YOUR medical degree?
ReplyDeleteI know this guy, and I also know he is in and was at the time in a long term relationship with a girl whom he lives with and had gotten pregnant by him. He does have some sort of mental disability but he also knows the difference between right and wrong.
ReplyDelete