on 03-03-2009 02:19

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET - In light of new police information that recently surfaced, all charges have been dropped in a child molestation case that had been brought against Raymond Dalton, the longtime principal of the Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary School.

Dalton, 53, who grew up in Pawtucket and lives in Cumberland, was indicted on Nov. 25, 2008 by a Providence County Grand Jury on charges that he had sexually assaulted a former male student from the Baldwin School over a three-year period in the late 1990s. According to the Attorney General's office, the victim, now an adult, came forward about a year and a half ago with the allegations, which he said took place between Jan. 1, 1995 and Dec. 1998 in Pawtucket.
Dalton was placed on a paid administrative leave following the indictment and has been working at the School Administration building ever since, pending the outcome of the case. At the time, Schools Supt. Hans Dellith said that Dalton had a spotless record, and numerous parents and fellow administrators also expressed shock and disbelief at the charges.
On Monday, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announced that his office has dismissed a five-count indictment that the Providence County Grand Jury had handed up previously against Dalton.  It was stated in a press release that after the indictment was announced, the Attorney General's Office and the Pawtucket Police Department received additional information that could not have been known to them before Lynch's office presented the original case to the grand jury in November.
According to the press release, "the new information caused prosecutors to reconsider the indictment, leading Lynch's office to present the case to a second Providence County Grand Jury, which, after deliberating on the matter, returned no indictment this past Friday."
On Monday, in accordance with Rule 48A of the Rhode Island Superior Court Rules of Criminal Procedure, a prosecutor in Lynch's office filed a dismissal form with the court, thereby terminating the pending criminal case against Dalton.
"Of the many powers a prosecutor has, the power to dismiss a charge and end an unwarranted criminal prosecution is perhaps his greatest power," said Lynch.
Dalton's attorneys, John E. MacDonald and Peter A DiBiase of the Larochelle & MacDonald law firm, issued a statement saying, "Ray Dalton is extremely pleased that all charges against him have been dismissed. Ray would like to thank the Department of Attorney General and Pawtucket Police for their professional and thorough investigation in this matter." The statement added that Dalton "would like to thank his family, friends and colleagues who stood by him during this very trying time."
It was not clear on Monday afternoon if or when Dalton would be returning as principal to Baldwin, and Schools Supt. Hans Dellith could not be reached for comment. However, Dalton's attorney, John E. McDonald indicated that he would be going back in the near future. He added that the teachers and administrators there are "elated" at the prospect of working with him again.
"A great result has happened for a great person" said MacDonald, noting that Dalton has been an educator for over 30 years. "I can't wait to see him back at work."
At the time of the indictment, Dalton's attorneys had issued a statement saying that the allegations arose "from a violent felon and career criminal with a motivation to better his current prison situation." However, Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the Attorney General's office, said at the time that he could not speak about the accuser and would not confirm or deny if he was a convicted felon and/or currently serving a prison term. He reiterated this position on Monday.
MacDonald said he did not want to comment any further on the accuser's motive beyond what has already been stated. However, concerning the allegations, he said "It's an occupational hazard that teachers and administrators have."