The office of District Attorney Geoff Rushlau dismissed 21 child rape charges against a South Bristol man July 12.
“The victim is unable to testify at this time,” Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wright said. “It’s very much an unfortunate situation” and one the office was unexpectedly forced to make “at the eleventh hour,” he said.
Kevin Farrin Sr., 49, was indicted last winter on six counts of rape and 15 counts of gross sexual assault.
The terms, although different, refer to the same crime – engaging in a sexual act with a child. The indictment alleged crimes dating to the spring of 1988. In 1989, Maine repealed its rape law, explaining the difference in terms for the six pre-repeal counts.
Farrin would have faced up to 40 years incarceration and a $50,000 fine for each count if convicted.
Farrin had pleaded not guilty to all counts. The case was scheduled for jury selection July 14.
The Dec. 16, 2010 indictment alleged that Farrin raped one girl 21 times over a course of nearly seven years, beginning when the girl was six years old.
According to a June 22, 2010 affidavit by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Detective Terry Michaud, the case was originally reported in the spring of 1997, however, the girl later “advised she did not want the matter pursued any further.”
LCSO began investigating the case again in Feb. 2010, following a “renewed complaint,” Lt. Michael Murphy said.
The woman gave Michaud an audio recording of a conversation with Farrin. According to the affidavit, Farrin, during the confrontation, alternately argues with the woman and apologizes, telling her “it’s —— haunted me my whole life.”
According to the affidavit, another woman also alleges she was raped by Farrin. The indictment, however, alleges crimes against only one victim.
Lincoln County Superior Court documents alternatively list Farrin’s address in South Bristol and West Gardiner. According to the indictment, the rapes took place in South Bristol.
Wright didn’t rule out the possibility of attempting to prosecute Farrin again. “Theoretically, we could bring back these charges,” he said. “I don’t think they’re protected by a statute of limitations.”
“We were quite happy about the dismissal,” Farrin’s attorney, Dennis Jones, said.