OXFORD — A 45-year-old volunteer driver for Community Concepts was accused Tuesday of sexually touching a mentally handicapped woman he was taking to her home in Poland, police said Wednesday.
Lawrence Thomas of Wing Street in Lisbon Falls was charged with assault and unlawful sexual touching. He was issued a summons to appear in 11th District Court in Paris on June 17.
Oxford police Lt. Michael Ward, who investigated the complaint, said the alleged incident occurred at about 1 p.m. after Thomas pulled off King Street onto a dead-end road. He was accused of assaulting and sexually touching the 23-year-old woman who was riding in the front seat.
“The girl came forward with her parents. That's how it was discovered,” police Chief Jon Tibbetts said Wednesday. He said Thomas has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Thomas is the second Community Concepts volunteer driver to be accused of a sex crime against a client this year. Last month, 74-year-old Errol Hammond of Wilton was suspended after his arrest on charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact. Hammond was charged with sexually assaulting a 31-year-old mentally handicapped woman he was taking to her home in Wilton in March.
Michael Burke, chief executive officer of Community Concepts, was unavailable for comment on Wednesday. Community Concepts' director for community advancement Jim Wilkins previously told the Sun Journal that volunteer drivers are given yearly background, criminal, and motor vehicle record checks.
The Community Concepts MaineCare Transportation Program provides free transportation to medical appointments for people who are eligible for MaineCare but cannot drive. About 375 volunteer drivers operate in Oxford, Androscoggin and Franklin counties and receive mileage reimbursement.
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Innocent until proven guilty
What ever happened to being innocent until proven quilty. You all would be devastated if a loved one of your was accused of such a crime, you do not know the story nor do you know either of these men. Just because someone is ACCUSED does not mean they did anything wrong.
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Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.not all male drivers are bad
i want to say just because a couple people have been accused of something doesnt mean all male drivers are like that. so please dont make all of us look like bad people when its not like that.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I agree with you, Blue Eyes;
I agree with you, Blue Eyes; Maine itself has become unsafe for both women and children.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Where is this louse's
Where is this louse's picture? I want to see a picture of this pervert!!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Tell me....
Tell me why male volunteer drivers are driving female clients to their appointments? This is not the first time women have been attacked. It happened a few years back in Augusta, I believe it was. Women should drive female clients and in all actuallity, they should drive young boy clients too. This world has become so unsafe for children now. Male drivers should only be able to drive certain age males. I know I am going to get jumped on for making this statement..but before you jump...think about it. S0 many children, 17 and under are being assaulted sexually. Look at that boys at the park recently who was touched by the Community Concepts guy. Women are raped left and right. Yes..there are a handful of women that are molesters as well....but it is a handful.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.women and children are a big
women and children are a big percentage of our client base. Do not convict all of us over one or two peoples actions. We volunteer to help people and this is what we get...
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The park incident was a Tri-County Mental Health employee, not Community Concepts.
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