If it's not something in the water, what is causing it?
That's the question being asked in hushed tones in Kingston coffeeshops and Internet chat rooms following the arrest last week of aSilver Lake Regional School Committee member on child sexual assault charges. The allegations against Brian Caseau landed even asresidents are still reeling from the arrest last month of a townselectman charged with raping a 14-year-old boy.
For many, the arrests can't help but stir painful memories of aseries of sexual abuse crimes in Kingston almost 15 years ago - fromthe grisly sexual assault and murder of 13-year-old Melissa Benoit bya neighbor, to rape charges against four local police officers andthe removal of a local priest charged with sexually abusing a highschool student.
The 1990 Benoit murder led Board of Health member Larry Slot tospeculate that her killer, Henry Meinholz, was driven to commit thecrime by high levels of copper in the town's water, an assertion that led outraged residents to recall Slot from office. Leading therecall effort was then Police Chief Alan Ballinger, who four yearslater was sentenced to three life terms in prison after he wasconvicted of raping two teenage girls.
Even those who decry the so-called "connect-the-dots" theory admit that the similarities and frequency of the incidents arestriking. They say the
charges of child sexual assault lodged against high-profilecommunity leaders have damaged the reputation of Kingston, a town of11,780, and have violated the trust that residents place in electedofficials.
"You can't ignore the fact that the town has a higher percentageof officials involved in these kinds of misdoings than other townsour size," said Jim Farrell, a longtime Kingston resident who serveson the town's Housing Authority. "People can't help but wonder ifthere's something else we don't know about coming down the pike. Itmakes you suspicious."
Others use words like repulsed, bewildered, shell-shocked, andmortified.
"I've been following and involved in politics in Kingston for 20years and I don't think I've ever seen the mood of people as volatileas it is today," said resident Dennis Randall, a town librarytrustee. "People are angry and disappointed . . . Above all, you canfeel an underlying current of disgust and distrust."
The town's reputation could be "very, very difficult to livedown," he said, which could eventually influence its ability toattract new residents.
Others say they worry more about attracting residents to publicservice.
Dan Sapir, editor of the Kingston Observer, said the most positivedevelopment to come out of recent events is the outpouring ofresponse by residents who have announced plans to run for the seat onthe Board of Selectmen vacated by Richard Cretinon. He resignedseveral weeks ago after pleading not guilty to charges he sexuallyassaulted a 14-year-old boy. Of the six people who have taken outnomination papers, only one has served town office before.
One of the candidates, 26-year-old Joseph Kelleher, said hebelieves new candidates will be able to help restore trust in towngovernment by working to build "a solid and honest track record."Kelleher recently returned after a stint in the Air National Guard.
Randall, also a Board of Health member, said he expects moreresidents will decide to seek the selectman's seat before Nov. 20,the deadline for taking out nomination papers and the day Cretinon isdue back in Plymouth District Court. A special election is scheduledfor Jan. 10.
Selectmen and School Committee members are expected to jointlyappoint a replacement for Caseau, who resigned from the Silver LakeRegional School Committee last Friday.
Joanna Massey can be reached at massey@globe.com.
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