Crime & Safety
Teen Victim, Mother Testify in Trial of Peabody Cop Wojick
Prosecutors say they expect the trial to last about a week.
The victim in a sexual abuse case against Peabody police officer Fred Wojick took the witness stand Tuesday, explaining in detail to jurors Wojick's alleged behavior with her and describing it as inappropriate and just "creepy," reports the Salem News.
Wojick, 49, a Peabody native, is charged with nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a minor and two counts of disseminating pornography to minors. His trial got underway in Lawrence Superior Court on Monday.
The now-teenaged victim, a family member of Wojick's, claims the abuse started when she was just 11 years old and lasted for years.
The Salem News reports the teen's mother also took the stand Tuesday and said she was aware of Wojick's alleged behavior, but never called police or filed a complaint.
The case first came to light in November 2012 when Wojick confided in another Peabody officer that his family life was in shambles and he indicated he may have behaved inappropriately toward the girl.
The teen's allegations, however, go far beyond the playful backside slapping Wojick admitted to his colleague.
Wojick, via his attorney Thomas Drechsler, maintains the teen fabricated the entire story likely as an act of revenge over a boyfriend Wojick did not approve of and because he didn't intervene when the boyfriend was arrested for drunken driving.
You can read more of the latest details from court in the Salem News here.
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