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Competency declaration moves sex charges forward
DOVER — Now that a federal judge has deemed John Allen Wright, 46, of Milton competent to stand trial for manufacturing and distributing child abuse images, he will finally face additional charges from the state.
Strafford County Attorney Thomas Velardi said Wright is scheduled to be arraigned on more than 15 charges alleging physical and sexual abuse against two boys, each under the age of 6. Police allege the crimes occurred between 2009 and April 2011 while Wright worked as a school bus driver for various public school systems in Strafford County. The charges originated in Milton through an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Velardi said Wright has not yet made an appearance on the state's charges, pending the outcome of the federal competency hearing.
The federal charges were filed in October.
United States Magistrate Judge Landya B. McCafferty granted a joint request to waive Wright's Jan. 31 competency hearing last week after reviewing a sealed competency evaluation, agreeing with both sides that he is competent to stand trial.
A federal trial alleging five counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possessing child pornography is scheduled for March.
In the meantime, Wright will be arraigned on the state charges by video in Strafford County Superior Court on Monday morning, Velardi said.
“What can go on with the state charges now, is at least he can be arraigned,” Velardi said.
Velardi said he will not be asking for a trial on the state charges before the federal trial scheduled for March.
“I've agreed to hold off on a trial date in the state system and take a wait and see approach,” Velardi said.
He said the fact that Wright has been found competent at the federal level means he is unlikely to argue competency at the state level.
“Now that he has been found competent at a federal level, it is much more likely we can proceed at the state level without having to litigate the issue of competency,” Velardi said.
Wright is being held without bail at the Strafford County House of Corrections as a federal prisoner.
Strafford County Attorney Thomas Velardi said Wright is scheduled to be arraigned on more than 15 charges alleging physical and sexual abuse against two boys, each under the age of 6. Police allege the crimes occurred between 2009 and April 2011 while Wright worked as a school bus driver for various public school systems in Strafford County. The charges originated in Milton through an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Velardi said Wright has not yet made an appearance on the state's charges, pending the outcome of the federal competency hearing.
The federal charges were filed in October.
United States Magistrate Judge Landya B. McCafferty granted a joint request to waive Wright's Jan. 31 competency hearing last week after reviewing a sealed competency evaluation, agreeing with both sides that he is competent to stand trial.
A federal trial alleging five counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possessing child pornography is scheduled for March.
In the meantime, Wright will be arraigned on the state charges by video in Strafford County Superior Court on Monday morning, Velardi said.
“What can go on with the state charges now, is at least he can be arraigned,” Velardi said.
Velardi said he will not be asking for a trial on the state charges before the federal trial scheduled for March.
“I've agreed to hold off on a trial date in the state system and take a wait and see approach,” Velardi said.
He said the fact that Wright has been found competent at the federal level means he is unlikely to argue competency at the state level.
“Now that he has been found competent at a federal level, it is much more likely we can proceed at the state level without having to litigate the issue of competency,” Velardi said.
Wright is being held without bail at the Strafford County House of Corrections as a federal prisoner.
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