DA: Rapist strikes again

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DA: Rapist strikes again
Sex offender was free despite violating probation
By Laura CrimaldiSaturday, February 20, 2010 -

A Framingham rapist and Level 3 sex offender is accused of breaking his GPS monitoring bracelet and committing another rape and kidnapping after he violated his probation last month but was allowed to remain free.

Prosecutors say William French, 29, raped a woman in Framingham on Thursday, just two days after Middlesex Superior Court Judge Howard Whitehead ordered French to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet for one year because he violated the terms of his probation by testing positive for smoking pot Jan. 4.

“This is a terribly disturbing case,” Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said in a statement. “We allege that the defendant’s chilling actions occurred . . . just days after he was placed on GPS monitoring by the Probation Department for a probation violation.”
Prosecutors say probation officials were alerted at 11:25 p.m. on Thursday after French removed his GPS monitoring bracelet. A warrant for his arrest was issued 20 minutes later.
It was unclear yesterday what limits were placed on French’s movements under the terms of his electronic monitoring. French lives with his grandparents in Framingham, court records show.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Commissioner of Probation responded only to e-mailed questions yesterday and stated without providing further details that a warrant was issued Thursday after probation officials learned French had cut off the bracelet. A judicial spokeswoman could not be reached late yesterday to comment on Whitehead’s decision Tuesday to let him remain free.

Details of the latest rape and kidnapping allegations were not released. Framingham District Court Judge Sarah B. Singer ordered the police report impounded and police refused to discuss it. A police log shows French was arrested at 2:50 a.m. yesterday at Framingham police headquarters.

French, who appeared in court wrapped in a blanket that covered his face, was charged with aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault and battery, unarmed robbery, burglary, armed assault and making threats. He is due back in court Thursday for a dangerousness hearing.
French was sentenced to eight to nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to aggravated rape in 2002, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
French was released on probation June 24, said Department of Correction spokeswoman Diane Wiffin.

The terms of French’s six-year probation require him to stay drug- and alcohol-free, submit to random drug screens, undergo sex offender treatment and have no contact with the victim.
In the prior rape case, French told the victim he had a gun and threatened to kill her and her 13-year-old daughter, who was sleeping in another room, if she did not comply, court records show.
French’s record also includes a string of prior arrests for larceny, assault, threats and burglary.