BOSTON (WHDH) - A Dorchester Municipal Court probation officer will be arraigned Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a female probationer in his courthouse office.
William Averill, 50 of West Roxbury, faces three counts each of rape and indecent assault and battery, as well as one count of assault with intent to rape.
Averill has been on administrative leave from his professional duties since an investigation began earlier this year.
According to prosecutors, Averill was assigned to supervise the woman, who is in her 20s, while she was serving a one-year probation sentence on convictions for larceny and receiving stolen property.
On Jan. 5, the woman reported to probation and Averill then allegedly led her into his office, where he began to touch and kiss her.
Officials said the woman told Averill to stop, and he did. Later in the meeting, he allegedly closed the blinds in his office and sexually assaulted the woman.
After leaving the courthouse, the woman called a relative and told them about the assault, leading to an investigation by the Suffolk District Attorney’s office and Boston Police Department.
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