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Prisoner Sex Abuse Charges Dropped Against Former School Board Member
January 14, 2011
Sex charges have been dropped against a former Escambia County (Ala.) School Board member and employee of the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department.
Richard Hawthorne of Flomaton was facing seven charges in connection with allegations that he fondled female inmates at the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center where he formerly worked as a corrections officer. He was charged with two counts of custodial sexual misconduct, two counts of prostitution, two ethics violations counts, and one count of second degree promotion of prison contraband.
The two women that made the allegations have refused to testify against Hawthorne, forcing prosecutors to drop the charges. The women did settle a federal lawsuit against Hawthorne for an undisclosed amount of money.
The two female county jail inmates alleged that they were sexually abused while transported by Hawthorne while he was a corrections officer –one to state prison on March 4 and one being transported to a mental health facility on April 27.
Hawthorne resigned his position with the sheriff’s department after an Alabama Bureau of Investigation probe into the allegations. At the time of his arrest, he had served on the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board since 2001, representing the Flomaton area.
Comments
19 Responses to “Prisoner Sex Abuse Charges Dropped Against Former School Board Member”
REGARDING:
“I too would have wanted my day in court to clear my name. This is something that will follow him for the rest of his life.”
You are not assured of clearing your name in court. You are more likely to win or lose the case but your name is still smeared. Even if people swear they made up the allegations, folks will wonder if they were lying then or if they are lying now. If the jury acquits, people will wonder if they were right or if the facts were withheld from them under some “technicality”.
Even if you are completely innocent, the fact that you were ever charged still remains. The fact that charges were filed remain on file with the courts, with the news organizations and in the minds of the people who read part of the allegations. If you ever try to make friends, run for office, borrow money, people will remember. (Not me, I have a trusting nature and poor memory, but others will remember and wonder.)
David considering facts and allegations
(is Master-Hawthorne still on the school board in Flomaton, I hope to shout u people have removed him from that…. )
Tina, he is NOT on the school board anymore. I too would have wanted my day in court to clear my name. This is something that will follow him for the rest of his life.
People like this make me sick. I hope we all get to witness karma bite him in the rear. Wickedness! God must be so disappointed in the way His world is. People don’t believe anymore…. they think they are above everything, the rules just don’t apply to them, we WILL pay for the wicked things we do…. i don’t think He meant with cash though!! Do you?……….. is Master-Hawthorne still on the school board in Flomaton, I hope to shout u people have removed him from that…. High School kids…..come on….Think!
Why did Hawthorne admit to putting money on one of these inmates books and why would you pay someone a dime if you hadn’t done anyhing improper. I would want my day in court to clear my name. This guy is not one of law enforcment’s “own” because he is law enforcement’s worst nightmare!
The law of man has said that he is innocent…but the law of GOD will always have final justice….money talked and the officer walked…what if…what if…what if…so what…the outcome was meant to be !!
REGARDING:
” ” The women did settle a federal lawsuit against Hawthorne for an undisclosed amount of money.” Seems like the women wanted the money more than justice.”
I have no idea as to the facts of this case, but it looks like the charges were independently made and less likely to have been concocted. This is not impossible, though. Not saying it happened or didn’t happen. Sometimes people conspire to lie for various reasons. Sometimes they are telling the truth.
Regarding the thought they were only interested in money rather than justice: It is possible they didn’t want to gamble on justice so they settled with what relief they could get.
I fully agree with art on this one, cameras would have settled the question, buddy system would have made it less likely to happen but not completely out of the question. Sometimes groups conspire to commit crimes. Just think about those New York police a few years back and the inmate they rearly attacked with a handle just for kicks.
David for justice and cameras
and staying out of places
where accusations are likely to arise
i suppose that a lie detector test would have helped clear him…but, maybe it wouldnt have been in his best interest this time
I agree
I don’t think that nothing happened and everyone has their price.
Maybe this money to these women meant a new life. Maybe this
will be the last time they get in trouble. Then again maybe they just
want crack. Only time will tell for the women involved.
But WHO let these women be transported by one lone man?
As for somebody worked with this guy and they don’t think he
would do it. I lived with my X-Husband for years and didn’t know
he would molest his own daughter so thats that isn’t it !
I like molinojim’s comments.
Just protecting their own. DA Billy loves to protect his own. Regardless of the dropped charges and the Federal payout something happened to warrant the payout.
I worked with Richard and I never thought he did any of the things that he was charged for. He is a great man and I am glad everything work in his favor. I just hate that those women had to ruin his life and job just for a little money!
I am against abuse of women of ANY kind, There is just something wrong with this picture. IF he didn’t do it, he needs to be proven not guilty.
” The women did settle a federal lawsuit against Hawthorne for an undisclosed amount of money.” Seems like the women wanted the money more than justice.
AND if this man is innocent, his reputation is ruined – FOREVER, Doesn’t seem right to me.
must have apretty sad life if he needed or wanted to fondle an inmate….someone who is one of the lowest of the low…..wonder what they were in for. sex has riuned so many peoples lives in so many ways……so sad for these poor people…they need to get a life, or some counseling
HOW ABOUT —MAYBE HE DID NOT DO IT. MANY TIME THE INSURANCE COMPANY ( YES THE OFFICERS ARE COVERED BY INSURANCE MOST TIMES) WILL PAY OFF BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER THAN GOING TO COURT. IT CAUSES THE OFFICER TO LOOK GUILTY WHEN HE’S NOT. YOU NEVER HEAR WHAT THE PAYOFF IS DUE TO EVERY THING IN THE CASE BEING CLOSED AS WE GET MORE AND MORE LAWYERS AND LESS CASES, SOME WILL TAKE A CASE FOR LITTLE RETURN . THE DAMAGE IS DONE TO THE OFICER AND THE WOMEN AND A LAWYER GET A LITTLE MONEY OUT OF THE DEAL.
sad to say….but, i would bet that one of the reasons it was settled, is because proper protocal was not followed (at least once) by the SO by transporting female prisoners w/o a female guard along….to contest, deny or fight the federal charges would have surely exposed some significant impropieties…so, did the SO/county/taxpayers or hawthorne pay them off?
Looks like it came down to money. Also, I thought there is supposed to be a female LEO present when there are female prisoners involved.
Art you are so right@
His reputation is gone for sure and he can never hold a state job but it is not right that the state can buy someone off. Mr Hawthorne should take the smirk off his face and hide his head in shame.
not saying it did or didnt happen but sound like to me those two inmates needed some more of the taxpayers money just saying
either cameras or the buddy system would have nipped that nonsense in the bud. when transporting prisoners there should be two officers at all times monitoring the prisoners. also, if there were cameras trained on the inside of the bus/van it might curtail any misconduct. but then again, we don’t have the funding/resources. (oh but we have the resources to settle federal lawsuits….just sayin’)