Frederick Wojick
By Eye on Peabody
Just wanted to update everyone on a story that broke back in November of 2012, and was reported here in this space.
Peabody police officer Fred Wojick has been cleared of charges of sexual molestation. Here are all of the details in the Peabody Patch.
Frederick Wojick
Just to update an earlier post here on the Eye, an Essex County grand jury on Wednesday found enough evidence to indict Peabody Police officer Frederick Wojick on nine counts of indecent assault and battery, and two counts of disseminating obscene material to a minor.
Wojick, 48, is on suspension from the police force and is now living in Danvers. An arraignment date has yet to be set. He has previously been arraigned on these charges in Peabody District Court on Nov. 30th.
If convicted, Wojick could face up to 10 years in prison on each count.
To read more details about the case against officer Wojick, check out our earlier post.
Officer Fred Wojick faced child molestation charges this morning n Peabody District Court . Image from WBZ-Boston, Ch. 4
Peabody Police officer Fred Wojick claimed through his attorney at an arraignment this morning that the child sexual molestation charges against him were “salacious” and “sensationalized” Attorney Tom Drechsler also said that the charges against his client were made out of an act of “revenge.”
Wojick, 48. was arraigned this morning in Peabody District Court on six counts of indecent assault and battery against a child under 14. The Essex County District Attorney’s office says that the alleged victim, who is Wojick’s step-daughter, is now 17. She told investigators the molestation started when she was 11, and continued until she was at least 15.
The alleged victim says that the acts involved repeated instances of inappropriate touching, and sexual references made to her and her friends. Wojick’s attorney said the allegations are false and that the step-daughter was angry because Wojick disapproved of her boyfriend.
Meanwhile, according to a report in the Salem News, Prosecutor Kate MacDougall said it was Wojick himself who first drew the attention of police, after he contacted a colleague earlier this month and reported that his family life was falling apart.
The Salem News said he told his colleague that he’d “joked around” and sometimes slapped the girl’s backside, but denied anything more serious.
Investigators say that the girl told them the touching incidents occurred during several instances. including while she was being tucked into bed. She also reported other instances when Wojick allegedly sat her on his lap and showed her pornography, according to the Salem News.
A 10-year veteran of the Peabody Police Department, Wojick has been suspended from duty. He was released by the court on personal recognizance, but has been ordered to stay away from both the alleged victim and her mother, and cannot to leave the state.
More to come as this story develops. Here’s the video from the story on Channel 4.
Here’s how this story was reported Channel 5
