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Plymouth police officer, husband arrested amid allegations of sexual abuse
Officer Samantha Pelrine and her husband, Daniel Forand, were arrested at their home Thursday morning.
Authorities have arrested a Plymouth police officer who was placed on leave last week amid allegations of sexual abuse, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
Previously:
Officer Samantha Pelrine and her husband, Daniel Forand, were arrested at their home Thursday morning, the DA’s office confirmed. They are being transported to the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Middleborough, where they will be booked and brought to Plymouth District Court for arraignment.
Court records indicate Pelrine, 31, is facing three counts of aggravated child rape with force and one count of aggravated statutory child rape.
Forand faces a slew of charges, including six counts of indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14, eight counts of aggravated child rape with more than a 10-year age difference, and three counts of joint enterprise aggravated child rape with force. He is also charged with single counts of aggravated statutory child rape, assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
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It was not immediately clear whether either Pelrine or Forand had an attorney.
“We are appalled and deeply disturbed by the allegations,” the Plymouth Police Department said in a Thursday release. “We hold our officers to the highest of standards and expect them to uphold their sworn duty both on duty and off. … The conduct alleged is in violation of our values and of our basic principles as police officers, to serve and protect.”
The department said it also remains committed to a “timely and thorough internal investigation to find the facts, review available evidence, and take appropriate administrative action.”
Pelrine’s duty status is also under review, according to the release.
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Pelrine was placed on paid administrative leave March 17 in light of a criminal investigation into her off-duty conduct, Plymouth police previously said. An abuse prevention order filed that same day in Plymouth District Court revealed that Pelrine and Forand, 37, were accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting someone over whom they had legal guardianship.
According to the filing, the alleged victim lived with their aunt and grandmother until they were 12 years old, at which point they moved in with Pelrine and Forand. The alleged sexual assaults began a short time after the couple became the child’s legal guardians, court records indicate.
“They are looking for me and I am scared for my safety,” the alleged victim wrote in an affidavit.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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