Testimony starts in trial of deputy accused in juvenile sex abuse case

Bangor Daily News - 11/13/2017

Nov. 13--AUGUSTA, Maine -- Assistant Attorney General John Risler told jurors Monday in his opening statement that the trial of a Lincoln County sheriff's deputy charged with sexually abusing three young teens is about trust -- "the trust we put in law enforcement ... and the trust of a child not to be abused."

Kenneth L. Hatch III, 47, has pleaded not guilty to 22 felony counts, including 14 counts of sexually abusing three minor teens, allegedly often in the back of his cruiser and often in exchange for marijuana.

One other count alleges he abused one the girls when she was 6 years old.

"What the evidence in this case will show is that the defendant was a decorated deputy by day and a different person after dark," Assistant Attorney General John Risler, the prosecutor in the case, told the jury Monday morning. "He used his position of trust as a deputy ... as a friend for his own personal benefit, in seeking sexual gratification from children and underaged teenaged girls."

Risler also said the victims were not "perfect."

"One was a young lady whose father couldn't control her," he said. "Another one developed a serious drug problem. One young lady I will tell you right now is sexually promiscuous and she self-medicates with alcohol. None of these things make them less of a victim. If anything, that shows why they were picked by the defendant to be abused."

Hatch, who in 2016 was named Deputy of the Year, is represented by attorney Richard Elliott, who on Monday referred to the prosecution as "this state machine, churning out evidence."

He asked the jurors -- seven men and eight women, who were seated Wednesday -- to "assess the credibility" and "the actual look" of the victims when they testify.

Elliott said the each of the three alleged victims "has a reason to be up there testifying," adding that one witness had been investigated by Hatch for alleged conspiracy in a different case.

"Ken Hatch did not do this. Ken Hatch is going to tell you he did not do this," Elliott said. "My job is to tell you that, even if you believe the state on some of these allegations," they couldn't have occurred within the timeline alleged.

Elliott also said Hatch would testify in his own defense.

The first witness, now 30 years old, said she was 14 when she began spending time at Hatch's Whitefield home, where he lived with his wife and two children. She said she and other teens rode all-terrain vehicles and played cribbage there, and that she at times spent as many as five nights per week there.

But she said Hatch made inappropriate comments about her body and others and would touch her "anywhere." She said Hatch touched her breasts in the presence of his wife, provided her Bacardi Limon and other liquor, and bought her items including a dress for a school dance. Risler provided a photo of her wearing that dress as evidence.

She told Risler she rode with Hatch when he was on patrol as a deputy and that she had a photo she said she took of Hatch while riding in the back of his cruiser with her best friend.

The alleged victim cried as said described three encounters with Hatch, once while in his cruiser, while he wore his brown deputy uniform and once in Hatch's bedroom when his family was at a soccer game.

After that, she said, "I didn't want to be there anymore."

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