Man charged in assault of girl
Convicted sex offender from Augusta allegedly grabbed, kissed 7-year-old
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
AUGUSTA — A man convicted of sexual assault, who also was on probation for assaulting a police officer, allegedly grabbed a 7-year-old girl Monday after walking out of a Stone Street apartment complex where he was being treated by social workers.
Darrell L. McCauley, 22, of Augusta, has been charged with assault and violating probation, according to Augusta police. He's currently being held in the Kennebec County jail.
Police didn't release any additional information on the case Tuesday. Although a police spokesman said a report on the incident would be available at 4 p.m., police said at that time they could not provide information because the case is still under investigation.
McCauley's probation officer, Roy Gutfinski, said McCauley reported to him regularly.
"He's been doing everything he was supposed to do up to now," he said. "Clearly, this guy has a lot of problems. He snuck by staff and took the opportunity to bolt."
Gutfinski said McCauley, who lives in the apartment building on Stone Street, was gone for less than five minutes when those providing services noticed he had left. McCauley was living in the building because one of the terms of his probation was to live in a place deemed appropriate by mental health professionals.
As part of his care, McCauley received help from Employment Specialists of Maine, Gutfinski said.
"They were in the building," he said. "From what I understand, this guy was pretty crafty."
When social workers saw McCauley grab the child at about 3:45 p.m., they intervened and restrained McCauley until police arrived, Gutfinski said. Augusta police Lt. Jeff Pomerleau said late Monday that McCauley kissed the girl during the assault.
The head of Employment Specialists of Maine, Jean Gallant, said her staff provides services to people with mental illness and mental retardation. It's not up to them to keep their clients under lock and key, she said.
"Any of the people there are their own guardians and can leave at any time," she said. "We're not a jail."
McCauley's criminal history includes a conviction on a charge of gross sexual assault, three counts of assault and one count of assault on a police officer, according to Superior Court records. Because his sexual assault conviction involved an adult, he is not required to register as a sex offender, Gutfinski said.
Gallant said services such as the ones her agency provides are necessary because of the state's efforts to move people out of institutions and into community-based support services. She said she understands the concerns of people who live near the clients she serves.
"If we weren't there, then nobody's going to be there," she said.
Gallant said her company faced criticism about a year ago when they treated two sex offenders who were placed in Sidney and later moved to Augusta.
Sidney residents were outraged that the men had been placed in their community and no one was notified. They were later moved to a home near the Augusta YMCA, further causing concern for the safety of children who used the Y.
The men were finally moved to a home on the campus of the Augusta Mental Health Institute.
In this case, Gutfinski said the staff went beyond their normal duties by restraining McCauley until police arrived.
"I see this as a success of the system," he said.
Kennebec County Sheriff Everett Flannery said Tuesday that all service center communities feel the pressure of trying to provide services with few resources. He and others in law enforcement have to balance the needs and rights of all people.
"We've got to be careful," he said. "The other side of the coin is the rights of individuals versus the rights of the majority."
Susan M. Cover — 623-1056
scover@centralmaine.com