Just when one thinks mankind has sunk to its furthest depths.

Two unsigned threatening letters have been mailed to Danielle Ramon, the Auburn teen who accused Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay of inappropriate groping while working in his accounting office last year. Guay, 65, was cleared of three counts of sexual touching by an Androscoggin County jury late last month.

That’s where this issue should have ended.

Fury follows whenever a public official is charged with a crime, and the Guay case was no different, except for the mayor’s overwhelming re-election in 2005 after the charges were filed. Public support was clearly with the popular Lewiston leader and has remained so.

It took bravery and gumption for the 19-year-old Ramon to stand before this community and make her accusations. She deserves credit for standing for what she believes, even after the jury declared Mayor Guay not guilty. Guay, as well, is blameless; he followed the law, and fought charges he felt were baseless, and won.

Again, this was the end.

Why, then, should Ramon receive mean-spirited and insulting letters, written with grade-school language and an adolescent sense of humor? This young woman has done nothing to merit such abuse, and those behind such despicable acts should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Larger issues are at stake. Not everyone has Ramon’s courage, and these inexcusable letters could discourage people who believe themselves victims of sexual abuse from coming forward, fearing both attention, and censure, from the community. Investigators will say it’s hard enough to prove these cases on merit alone, without subjecting the participants to public scorn.

So enough already. The Guay case is over, as should be any rebuke of his accuser.

To the letter writer or writers, we say this: While you may think you’re clever, you are not. Your tormenting messages to Ramon, a violation of this community’s sense of decency, exposed your ignorance.

Police are investigating the threats for criminal charges.

We look forward to seeing the author or authors in court.