Harrison Thorp 7:26 p.m.
Monday, April 12, 2021 7:27 pm
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ROCHESTER - Rochester City Councilor Doug Lachance is expected to step down from his position on Tuesday, City Councilor Dave Walker told The Rochester Voice today.
The expected decision by Lachance, 57, to resign comes as sex assault accusations from a 2007 case involving a teenage male resurface against the former Rochester mayor and current representative of Ward 1.
City Councilors Jeremy Hutchinson and Palana Belken are the only two councilors who have called for Lachance to step down. The others have had no comment except for James Gray, who called on police and prosecutors to decide as quickly as possible if charges should be brought forward from a 2007 case.
Walker, who said he learned of the anticipated resignation from City Mayor Caroline McCarley, said he had mixed emotions regarding Lachance's decision to step down.
"I'm saddened by the allegations," he said. "And you shouldn't rush to judgment. But I hope this is over soon, and we can move on."
Accusations of sex assault aimed at Lachance are again being investigated by police, who say they were contacted by the main complainant about a month ago.
Andy Brooks, 37, of Colorado, who grew up in Rochester, alleges Lachance made inappropriate sexual advances to him when he was a teenager.
Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi told The Rochester Voice that the reason the case was dropped in 2007 was because the main complainant - represented as Brooks in police documents - decided not to move forward with what would have likely been a long and difficult trial for a misdemeanor case.
Lachance had previously issued several denials the abuse occurred and declined further comment. He was not immediately available today.
Walker said Lachance had been scheduled to tender his resignation today, but "that didn't happen."
Velardi has declined comment on the case as it is again active.