Ex-cop on trial for rape of a child

By George P. Hassett

The trial of a former Somerville cop accused of raping a 23-month-old girl begins this week.

Keith Winfield will go on trial for rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and assault and battery with dangerous bodily injury. Winfield became a Somerville police officer in 2000 but was placed on administrative leave from the job in October 2005 when city officials learned he was being investigated for rape of a child. When he was indicted for the crime on August 1, 2006 he agreed to resign. A City Hall source said if he had not resigned Acting Police Chief Robert R. Bradley and Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone were prepared to terminate him.

Authorities allege Winfield, of Melrose, assaulted the 23 month-old victim with a hot object, causing serious burns, which developed over the next 24 to 36 hours. The girl’s mother brought her to a doctor the following day. The doctor referred the girl to a Boston hospital, and police were contacted after doctors there suspected the girl had been sexually and physically abused, according to authorities. Winfield’s indictment came nine months after the incident first occurred. He has pled not guilty.

Curtatone said regardless of what happens at the trial Winfield will not get his job back. “He’s an ex-police officer now. He is no longer employed by the City of Somerville and whatever happens at his criminal trial will not affect that,” he said.

Middlesex District Attorney spokeswoman Meredith Lerner said a jury was being selected Tuesday opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday or Thursday. 

Comments

[jim doran]

f

[please]

This is the most sad and depraved crime of all time. Just sickening.

[you have no idea... please]

Sickening? Yes. Did this person do this despicable crime? NO. Do you know the facts? Do you know the mother of the child has felony drug charges against her? Don't think you do. Yes this baby was obviously hurt, but by whom is the question... everything leads to the mother. Drug addict, welfare, doesn't have any idea who the father is? Come on now. Open your eyes people. It's clear! The mother should just admit that she made a mistake not blame it on her sister's husband just because she's jealous and a sociopath.

[K.S]

Look....just because someone has a drug charges against her doens't mean she's guilty!And just because she's on welfare doens't got a damn thing to with her child being sexually assaulted!! Where is the common sense here??? Give me a break! And I'm sick and tired of "people" defending sick, twisted, sneaky, unworthy cops! Yes! COPS do bad things too! They pull people over unlawfully, they purchase and sell drugs, solicite prostitutes.....all while being a supposed "Member of the Force".....now that's sickening. True....we don't KNOW ALL of the FACTS in this case YET.....but why would they single this one guy out???? Hmmm????? And why did he RESIGN if the charges are false against him??? Hmmmm???? Interesting huh? Let's not jump to conclusions. A jury will hear the EVIDENCE and by the Grace of God....they will find this PIG GUILTY!!!

[John]

I agree police lie and are genrally scumbags if it werent for the basge they would be just like crimanals

[Could happen to anyone]

hey how about I come over to your house and accuse you of raping me??? would that make it true because i accused you?