Second Child Now a Victim in Sexual Abuse Case of Peabody Officer

Prosecutors say there is a second juvenile victim in a sexual abuse case against veteran Peabody police officer Fred Wojick.

Wojick, 48,  and he was initially arraigned on multiple charges in Peabody District Court in November. The case was then transferred to superior court after a grand jury indictment on Dec. 19.

The Salem News reports that Wojick was arraigned on additional charges in Salem Superior Court on Monday and prosecutors say Wojick allegedly showed adult pornography to a second child.

District Attorney spokesperson Carrie Kimball-Monahan said the child is not a family member.

She said authorities were aware of the possibility of a second victim two months ago, but went forward with the initial charges and wrapped up the investigation last month.

Kimball-Monahan said the added charge of disseminating pornography only relates to the second juvenile while three more counts of indecent assault and battery (on a person over 14) are related to the first victim. Essentially the assault charges now reflect the six-year span the victim claims she was molested.

Wojick faces a total of nine counts of indecent assault and battery and two counts of disseminating pornography. He again pleaded not guilty, reports the Salem News.

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

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 in 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 -- repeated instances of both Wojick inappropriately touching her and having her touch him -- go far beyond the playful backside slapping Wojick admitted to his colleague.

The Salem News reports that prosecutors did not seek bail again for Wojick on Monday, but a judge did grant a request for Wojick to have no contact with either child or the first victim's mother.

Wojick has been suspended from duty as a patrol officer, pending the outcome of the case, which resumes in court for a pre-trial hearing Feb. 26.