WISCASSET, Maine — A Maine state trooper on trial for illegal sexual contact with a girl under the age of 14 was assaulted Thursday in a Lincoln County Superior Court courtroom just as a jury was preparing to release its verdict, according to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Michael Murphy.
William Harrison, 39, of Charlestown, Mass., was arrested by Lincoln County deputies and charged with assault, according to a press release from the sheriff’s department. Harrison immediately was tackled by sheriff’s department deputies and courtroom security personnel, according to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Maj. Ken Mason.
Mason declined to provide any details about the assault other than to say that there were no weapons involved. Neither the superior court justice nor the jury in the case were present at the time and Mason said spectators were gathering in the courtroom when the assault occurred.
“A couple of punches were thrown that found their mark,” said Mason, who would not say what interest Harrison has in the case. “I’m not at liberty to discuss anything further.”
The trooper, Gregory Vrooman, 46, of Nobleboro, was indicted by a Lincoln County grand jury in February 2011 on four counts of unlawful sexual touching, four counts of unlawful sexual contact, four counts of assault and a charge of tampering with a witness. Vrooman, a 24-year veteran of the Maine State Police, was arrested in November 2010 at his home and later released on bail. Vrooman has been on unpaid administrative leave since his arrest. The alleged assaults happened between December 2009 and November 2010, according to a previous article in the Bangor Daily News.
According to Murphy, Vrooman was assaulted by a member of the audience at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday as the jury prepared to render a verdict in the case. Murphy said the spectator threw a few punches at Vrooman before being subdued by others in the courtroom within moments. The assault suspect was arrested and Vrooman was transported away from the courthouse by ambulance and taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries to his face..
If convicted, Vrooman faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each of the witness-tampering and unlawful sexual contact charges, which are Class C crimes. Each count of assault and unlawful sexual touching, which are Class D crimes under Maine law, is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Harrison was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail and is being held on $5,000 cash bail.
Check bangordailynews.com for more information as this story develops.
Vigilanty justice, perhaps?
Good enough.
wow
why am I guessing many members on HIS side of the thin blue line are about to go out and do their share of witness tampering as well?
Try reading the article…They were about to read the verdict, which means the trial is already over…So your whole comment about witness tampering makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
The Guy Deserves Death Sentence Just As Like The Others Deserve Death Sentence cause once there out they will do it again….never trust em. Enough Said.
what ever happened to being inocent until proven guilty?
The same thing that happened to pretty much every other formerly cherished principle in our society: the 21st century. There are just too many of us here in the world today, communicating too quickly and conveniently about too many things, with ever-shortening time for reflection. This age hasn’t got the time for antiquated luxuries like privacy, presumption of innocence, civil discourse, or a sense of proportion. That stuff is all so 18th-century.
Wherever that saying came from, it was all made up. In the USA you are thrown in jail, bailed out and guilty until proven innocent. I don’t know why people don’t understand that these days. YOU are NOT innocent until proven guilty or you wouldn’t get arrested FIRST.
Why would you tamper with a witness if you weren’t?
Did someone repeal the “Gueranteed Trial by Jury”? He hasn’t been convicted yet! How would you like someone to accuse you and try you in the newspaper?
He is on trial. The jury has been sworn, and they are not allowed to read any news articles or individually research the alleged facts. As he is getting his trial by jury; the jury was not in the room. And as I said to another poster, why would you tamper with a witness if you were not guilty? And as he’s getting his fair trial, keep in mind that little girl gets a lifetime of nightmares. Chillax, people are getting sick of kids getting hurt, preyed upon, kidnapped and murdered, so they vent their outrage here.
And waiting a couple of days for a verdict is too much. Maybe there is time to form a lynch mob and hang him before we hear what the jury has to say.
Don’t mess with a Townie .
Wow, the vigilante comments are wild. Folks drooling with delight at “prison justice.” You must watch cage fighting, cock fights, pit bull melt-downs and kiddie fights. Everyone has some rights, even criminals.
What is a “kiddie fight”?
A pedophile has NO RIGHTS. I think Vroom will find being a pedophile, and a cop will make his stay in prison exceedingly uncomfortable.
Comment reserved till the Jury returns.
The jury convicted… Lets hope for the longest possible sentence. He violated his position of trust, gave the State police organization a black eye, and of the utmost importance hurt a young girl he was paid to protect.
“Once they are out they will do it again” is a statement of fact proffered to justify the absurdity of demanding death for an allegation prior to conviction. Challenging that premise is not rude. Its an intellectual prerequisite to any right to comment, whether in agreement or contradiction, on the premise made.
The lack of citation to support by you and the original poster is noted.
Clearly, telling someone to use their brain would never be mistaken as rude but instead makes you sound highly intelligent…..no need to note my lack of citation, my opinion needs no support nor does the original poster.
“Clearly” and “obviously” are not arguments supported by facts; just the opposite, they are rhetorical devices used when there aren’t any to support the premise.
Theres no verdict he was attacked before it was told
wow
HOORAY FOR HARRISON. Looks like he got a few good licks in. Im loving all these people on here sticking up for an obvious pedophile. A cop too? should be double the recommended sentence. He took an oath to protect.
Oink, Oink, another malcontent reporting story without all the facts presented to the readers.
SO what was the verdict? Was it postponed, given anyways? H E L L O? “Here’s Your Sign”
Good Night From somewhere in the backwoods of Maine, the State that has been Open for Corruption for the past 40 years or so.
Reminds me of Roland Foss from East Corinth area.
When Harrison is released, I’d like to buy him a beer.
Would be nice to see other State Troopers pitch in and pay for any of Harrison’s legal fees.
who says they haven’t pitched in?
Start a fund to pay his fine.
What’s going on in our courts this week? First, a guy tries his luck with jury tampering. Then another juror practically applauds the prosecutor. Now a free for all breaks out. Ladies and Gentlemen, ORDER IN THE COURT! PLEASE!
Society is saying “Don’t mess with our kids”.
Agreed. And it’s about time!
I cant believe that either of them could ever be around young girls or women in general.Both oooze evil!
I think we should take up a bail collection. This man did what we all wish we had the guts to do.
From the tone of all the comments Vrooman is being subjected to the French system of being guilty until proven innocent. Tough position.
what if the girl made this up?maybe her father was arrested by him and got his daughter to lie about him.or maybe not.who knows.I have worked with troubled teens for over 30 years and their are some who would and have made false statements before.im not saying this is what happened but for anyone who has worked with teens that are troubled know this does happen.but if he is truely guilty then he should get 20 plus years as being a state cop means he should be held to a much higher standard then a normal person.
He isn’t “normal.”
You all should read the article in the maine lincoln county news1 He admitted to most of it. That will help with alot of your comments!
William Harrison should get a pat on the back for imposing justice on a baby raper..
inocent people dont tamper with witnesses
hmmm….
Dude was just giving the pedo a sneak-preview of prison.
Bet it will come out that Harrison is somehow related to the minor girl……
What was ther verdict?
That assault on this predator is probably the only justice that little girl is going to get. I wonder if the guy that assaulted him was a family member…
Assult on a Police officer is going to carry some time.
if he did what he is accused of, he’s no police officer. he’s a criminal
William Harrison = HERO
maybe harrision wants to go to jail. I might consider it, if it was one of my family members that got molested.That way I would get another chance at him because what time he gets wont be enough.