Sexual Abuse Case Against Peabody Cop Goes to Trial Next Week

The case against veteran Peabody police officer Fred Wojick, who is accused of sexually molesting a juvenile female family member over a period of several years, will finally go to trial early next week.

The Essex County District Attorney's office said jury selection is scheduled for Monday morning in Lawrence Superior Court and opening statements from both sides should be made later that day.

Wojick, 49, was arrested by state police after a preliminary investigation in November 2012. He was arraigned on multiple charges in Peabody District Court and the case was transferred to superior court after a grand jury indictment that December, which included additional charges.

Wojick faces a total of nine counts of indecent assault and battery and two counts of disseminating pornography. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors said a second child -- not a family member -- was also allegedly shown adult pornography by Wojick.

The initial victim, now 18, told authorities the abuse started when she was 11 and spanned a period of six years. She claimed Wojick made repeated explicit sexual comments to and about her and touched her in a sexual manner once she reached puberty. She said he also showed her and a friend adult pornography.

Wojick's attorney Tom Drechsler has fully denied the allegations and says the real issue was that Wojick disapproved of a boyfriend the girl had -- this was payback.

When Wojick was first arraigned, Drechsler called the allegations "salacious" and "sensationalized" and argued they were possibly made as an act of revenge against Wojick.

The case first came to light that November when Wojick confided in another Peabody police officer that his family life was in shambles and he indicated he may have behaved inappropriately toward the girl.

The teen's allegations, however, went far beyond the playful backside slapping Wojick admitted to his colleague.

Wojick was suspended from duty as a patrol officer, pending the outcome of the case.

Prior to the case, he spent nearly 12 years on the Peabody force and was a decorated officer without any history of criminal or legal problems, according to his attorney.

Wojick graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, coached Pop Warner football and worked five years as an officer at UMass Lowell and another five with the Essex police. He also owns or did own a gym on Foster Street.