A former MBTA police officer has been convicted on three counts of rape in a harrowing case from 2012. SHAWN MCCARTHY, 50, now living in Maine, was found guilty by a Suffolk jury for sexually assaulting two women after offering them a ride in his patrol car, the Suffolk District Attorney's office announced.
MCCARTHY's victims, who were in their early 20s at the time of the incident, had been drinking in Boston when they crossed paths with the officer outside the Aquarium subway station. Disregarding another officer’s advice, MCCARTHY provided the women a "joyride," complete with flashing blue lights. He later assaulted them at a vacant lot, saying he hadn’t risked his job for nothing. McCarthy then drove them back to the pickup spot, warning them to keep silent about the assault.
According to the details disclosed in a statement obtained by the Suffolk District Attorney's press release, one of the women reported the assault immediately to a male relative and had to recount the traumatic event in 2019 during a law enforcement job application process. Initially, the crime was ascribed to a Boston Police Department officer until further investigation incriminated a Transit Police officer instead.
After an assiduous grand jury investigation in coordination with the MBTA police, MCCARTHY, who had been placed on administrative leave in December 2019 and resigned thereafter, admitted to having the women in his cruiser on the night of the incident but denied any sexual misconduct. “This officer abused his position, violated his department protocols, and, worst of all by far, subjected two young women to sexual assaults that went unacted upon for many years. But thanks to the victims ultimately coming forward, and the diligent work of investigators, justice in this case was sought and, with today’s verdict, delivered,” District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the press release.
The former officer, whose betrayal of trust has marred the expectations from those sworn to protect, will be sentenced on March 20. McCarthy has been ordered held after the verdict, assuring his presence for the sentencing in the subsequent week.
