- Kenneth Hatch was found not guilty of two charges and the jury deciding his case was deadlocked on his remaining 20 charges, prompting the mistrial
- Prosecutors say Hatch sexually abused three girls from 1999 to 2014
- The alleged abuse of one girl started when she was 6 years old
- Hatch’s defense said the accusers knew each other and had an ax to grind
Kenneth Hatch, who was once named ‘Deputy of the Year,’ was charged with sexually abusing three girls. A Maine jury found him not guilty of two counts
A mistrial has been declared in the case of a onetime ‘Deputy of the Year’ charged with sexually abusing three girls in Maine.
Jurors in Kennebec County acquitted Kenneth Hatch, of Whitefield, of two felony counts but deadlocked Monday on the remaining 20 felony counts.
This lack of resolution resulted in the mistrial on those charges.
Prosecutors say Hatch abused the girls from 1999 to 2014.
Court documents say the abuse of one girl started when she was 6 years old. The others were 14 or 15.
All told, he was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, unlawful sexual contact and furnishing marijuana.
He was found not guilty of one count of sexual abuse and one count of furnishing of marijuana for girls, both of which pertained to girls between the ages of 14 and 15, the Wiscasset Newspaper reports.
Hatch, the prosecution alleged, abused the three girls from 1999 to 2014. He was faced with 22 charges including sexual abuse of a minor, unlawful sexual contact and furnishing marijuana
The jury could not reach a verdict on 20 other counts against Hatch. The judge declared a mistrial. Pictured in the purple shirt is defense attorney Richard Elliott. Pictured second from right is Judge William Stokes
The jurors told the court that further deliberation would likely not help them come to a conclusion about the 20 remaining charges.
Hatch pleaded not guilty. His lawyer said the accusers knew each other and had an ax to grind.
He has been on unpaid leave with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.
A status conference will be held on December 20.
It is not clear whether or not the state of Maine will retry Hatch on the remaining charges.