Cheryl Ferguson, a Haverhill School Committee member, has been found not guilty of charges related to an alleged incident involving a teenage boy on Halloween. According to The Boston Globe, an Essex County jury acquitted the 60-year-old of indecent assault and battery on a person aged 14 or older, as well as assault and battery. The verdict was reached after about 20 minutes of deliberation on Wednesday in Haverhill District Court.
The charges stemmed from an Oct. 29, 2024, allegation that Ferguson had inappropriately touched a masked teen outside a 7-Eleven store. However, surveillance footage did not support the teen’s claims, leading to the jury’s decision. As reported by WHAV, Ferguson’s attorney Maria Murber pointed to the video evidence, stating it did not show Ferguson in any compromising position with the teen.
Ferguson, who has lived in Haverhill for 30 years, said the accusations had a lasting impact on her life and career. “This incident, these charges, caused me to lose my reputation and my job,” she told WHAV. Despite the acquittal, Ferguson confirmed she will not seek re-election but plans to complete her current term on the School Committee, which ends this year.
The charges were filed following a complaint from the teenager’s mother to Haverhill Police.
