Sexual assault charges dropped against deaf man

Miss-Delectable · 06-07-2007, 09:50 PM

Nashuatelegraph.com: Local/Regional

Prosecutors have dropped sexual assault charges in the case of a city man who was deemed mentally competent to stand trial, despite not being able to communicate in any full language.

Victor Laporte, 33, of 741B W. Hollis St., still faces a single felony child-endangerment charge, alleging he propositioned a 14-year-old baby sitter in 2003.

The prosecutor, Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney Paula Philbrook, declined to comment Wednesday on why she dropped the assault charges.

Laporte had been free on bail while facing four counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, each punishable by up to 10 to 20 years in prison. The charges alleged he raped an adult woman in 2005 and, in a separate case, that he molested a 5-year-old girl later that same year.

Laporte’s lawyers had argued he was unable to meaningfully communicate with them, and they weren’t sure whether he understood the charges or legal process.

Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge William Groff found Laporte competent to stand trial after a lengthy hearing on the matter last year, however.

Laporte was born deaf to hearing parents and attended the American School for the Deaf, where he was identified as having severe learning disabilities, emotional problems and below-average mental abilities, Groff’s ruling states.

Though he knows some of both, Laporte never learned English or American Sign Language to the point of fluency, Dr. Peter Isquith, a psychologist specializing in speech and hearing science, testified at the competency hearing.

Laporte communicates instead with a mix of signs known as Pigeon Sign English, or PSE, which isn’t considered a full, functional language in itself, Isquith said.

Police used a sign-language interpreter to question Laporte about the baby sitter’s accusations in 2003 and reported that after first denying it, he later admitted to suggesting the two of them have sex.

Judge Bernard Hampsey later ruled Laporte’s statement couldn’t be used as evidence, because it was unclear whether police explained to him that he didn’t have to give any statement and could consult a lawyer.

06-07-2007, 09:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,855 Blog Entries: 3	Sexual assault charges dropped against deaf man Nashuatelegraph.com: Local/Regional Prosecutors have dropped sexual assault charges in the case of a city man who was deemed mentally competent to stand trial, despite not being able to communicate in any full language. Victor Laporte, 33, of 741B W. Hollis St., still faces a single felony child-endangerment charge, alleging he propositioned a 14-year-old baby sitter in 2003. The prosecutor, Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney Paula Philbrook, declined to comment Wednesday on why she dropped the assault charges. Laporte had been free on bail while facing four counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, each punishable by up to 10 to 20 years in prison. The charges alleged he raped an adult woman in 2005 and, in a separate case, that he molested a 5-year-old girl later that same year. Laporte’s lawyers had argued he was unable to meaningfully communicate with them, and they weren’t sure whether he understood the charges or legal process. Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge William Groff found Laporte competent to stand trial after a lengthy hearing on the matter last year, however. Laporte was born deaf to hearing parents and attended the American School for the Deaf, where he was identified as having severe learning disabilities, emotional problems and below-average mental abilities, Groff’s ruling states. Though he knows some of both, Laporte never learned English or American Sign Language to the point of fluency, Dr. Peter Isquith, a psychologist specializing in speech and hearing science, testified at the competency hearing. Laporte communicates instead with a mix of signs known as Pigeon Sign English, or PSE, which isn’t considered a full, functional language in itself, Isquith said. Police used a sign-language interpreter to question Laporte about the baby sitter’s accusations in 2003 and reported that after first denying it, he later admitted to suggesting the two of them have sex. Judge Bernard Hampsey later ruled Laporte’s statement couldn’t be used as evidence, because it was unclear whether police explained to him that he didn’t have to give any statement and could consult a lawyer. __________________

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