Man sentenced in assault blasts victim at hearing

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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ALFRED -- A man was sentenced to seven years in prison on assault charges Friday, after a tense hearing in which he accused his victim of trying to extort money from his family. Justice G. Arthur Brennan delivered the sentence to Richard Harrelson 40, formerly of Winthrop. Harrelson was convicted in February of aggravated and domestic assault.

The charges stemmed from a May 2005 incident where he allegedly assaulted a woman at her Saco home after a night of drinking.Harrelson bound the woman's wrists and feet, beat her and allegedly raped her, but the accusation of gross sexual assault ended in a deadlocked jury, according to court documents. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges, and maintained his innocence at Friday's hearing -- calling the victim a "con artist" during a court address that vacillated between pleading and angry in tone. The victim appeared visibly shaken.

Neither the prosecutor nor defense attorney said they had seen anything like Harrelson's court address. "I've never seen someone really attack a victim that openly during sentencing," said Assistant District Attorney Patrick Gordon, who prosecuted the case.

Typically, those convicted of a crime use their opportunity to speak at a sentencing to ask for lighter sentences, sometimes apologizing to victims and their families.

Harrelson refused to apologize when he spoke, telling Brennan he would not even if he knew it would result in a lighter sentence. He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison for the crimes. "I never touched that woman," he said.

Harrelson spoke for about five minutes, pointing his finger at the victim and prosecutor as court security guards inched closer to where he stood.

The victim put her hand over her mouth and shook her head several times as Harrelson questioned her honesty and challenged her to repeat her accusations.

The Morning Sentinel does not identify the victims of alleged sex crimes. Gordon asked for the maximum sentence of 10 years because Harrelson has a criminal record that dates to 1986, including one incident where he struck someone in the head with a beer bottle.

Harrelson received seven years in prison and three years of probation. Brennan also ordered Harrelson to undergo drug and alcohol counseling.

In court, Harrelson claimed to be the son of a former Red Sox player and current Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson.

He said he told his victim about his father in an effort to make small talk during their first meeting, at a bar, and thought she wanted to use the charges to get money from the former ballplayer.

The announcer could not be reached for comment. Calls to WGN in Chicago, his employer, and an e-mail message were not returned. Published biographies of Ken Harrelson indicate he has two children, neither of them named Richard Harrelson.

Jon Gale, Richard Harrelson's attorney, said he was aware his client, who did not testify at trial, was preparing a speech for the hearing. "It was consistent with things he's said since I met him," Gale said.