A Lincoln County grand jury indicted State Trooper Gregory Vrooman, 45 of Nobleboro, on four counts of unlawful sexual contact, four counts of unlawful sexual touching, four counts of assault and one count of tampering with a witness.
The unlawful sexual contact, unlawful sexual touching and assault charges all stem from four alleged incidents between Dec. 16, 2009, and Oct. 27, 2010, involving a 13-year-old Nobleboro girl, according to the indictment.
The tampering with a witness charge names the alleged victim and her mother and alleges that Vrooman attempted to induce them to “withhold testimony, information or evidence.”
“This is not a surprise,” said Vrooman’s attorney, Michael Turndorff. “At a meeting of the grand jury, the prosecutor presents a very selective version of the evidence.”
Neither defendants nor their attorneys are present at the grand jury and they do not have an opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s allegations or present evidence of their own.
“It doesn’t take much to lodge a complaint against someone,” Turndorff said. “There’s a very low burden of proof” required to receive an indictment, he said.
As of Feb. 24, Vrooman was on paid leave from the State Police Department, Turndorff said. Vrooman is scheduled to appear in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset for arraignment on March 3.
