Wilton man accused of sex offenses
Carl Seaward, Jr.
WILTON - Police have charged an 81-year-old of sexually assaulting two girls under the age of 12.
Wilton Sgt. Richard Billian, Jr. arrested Carl Albert Seaward Jr.of Wilton, on Tuesday on charges of unlawful sexual contact and unlawful sexual touching.
The offenses were reported to police by the Department of Health and Human Services.
In March last year, Seaward was honored by U.S. Congressmen Michael Michaud who handed him four military service awards: the Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service medal, Korean Service medal (with one Bronze Service Star) and the United Nations Service Medal in a ceremony, at the Wilson Grange Hall.
Seaward, a retired teacher and school counselor, served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954 and was stationed at the 2nd Division Headquarters in Korea.
According to an intake officer Wednesday night, Seaward remains at Franklin County jail.
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Great! Retired teacher?!?!?! How many other victims are there suffering in silence?
Get people like that off the streets
Obviously an educated man who knew right from wrong. I have to wonder how many other victms will come forward.
If there are more victims, I hope they find the courage to come forward..
Charged, NOT convicted.
From the original story last March "After serving in Korea, Seaward joined the U.S. Forest Service after graduating from the University of Maine with a degree in Forestry. In the early 1960s, he switched careers and taught math and science at Andover, Greenville and Old Town high and middle schools. He moved to Arizona and spent the next 15 years teaching and earned a master's degree in counseling.
He returned to Maine and taught Adult Education at Mountain Valley and was a counselor at the Jay schools until his retirement in 2002. Currently he serves as a ballot clerk for Wilton and is the town's representative on the Sandy River Recycling Committee. He is also a member of numerous charitable organizations."
I do not know this man or his family, but in my most humble opinion, he deserves to be PRESUMED INNOCENT until and unless he is proven guilty of these charges. All too often people are tried and convicted by public opinion, and their lives and reputations forever damaged, when they are in fact innocent. Children sometimes lie, and DHHS certainly is not infallible in its actions.
thank you, nancy. apparently most bulldog comment writers don't understand the justice system.
So Nancy you are saying because of his accomplishment's that this man could not of done the crime. I agree that innocent until proven guilty but I don't agree that you make it sound like only educated or people who contribute to society are perfect law abiding citizens. Do givers can have evil in there life as well. Please don't find him INNOCENT because of everything he as accomplished in his life.
It is amazing how many sexual offenders there are here in this area. Between the bulletin boards in town offices and the sexual offenders database online there are like 50 sexual offenders in Farmington alone and like 300 in Franklin County. It is sick and disgusting that there are that many of those type of sexual offenders in the area. Between sexual offender criminals and non sexual criminals our area is being overrun with criminals. We have a criminal population ratio of big cities. Something needs to be done.
Please pray for all those involved. Always avoid vigilante justice.... Pray this didn't happen...Then pray again
Just because someone may appear as a pillar in the community or has accomplished great things doesn't mean that they are not capable of something like this Nancy. It's your very attitude that keeps abuse happening because victims are scared to come forward in fear of not being believed. You'd feel differently if the victims were part of your family-I HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Screw all you who have judged him before he has been found guilty in a court of law!! Ever heard the phrase INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty? Of course half of you are most likely uneducated twits and know nothing about the judicial system. This man is a good man and I have known him for many years. Why not wait and see what the evidence is before you start condemning and ruining a man's life.
I trust the justice system as well as our fine boys in blue, these are horribly sick allegations and wouldn't be brought unless there was some sort of merit to them. Ill pray they are false but it's disturbing as all get out. Unfortunately when these allegations come out more times than not they are true.
Wow!!!!! I thought the Daily Bulldog refrained from printing hateful and insulting comments! I don't see where anyone here resorted to calling the accused any names at all.
Our judicial system is so flawed in this county, guilty people get a slap on the wrist all the time!! By the way, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the state of Maine goes way to easy on these types of crimes.
Native - do you know how much money it costs to keep people in jail?? Not to mention the population in the jails right now. The judicial system tries to give out the best sentences it can without draining even more money from your wallet. Being a "Native Mainah" you must see how many of these types live in our state, if we through everyone of them in jail for the time your looking for we would have to build about 300 more prisons to house them!
I find it hard how quick people are to judge others without all the facts. There are people on the list for different reasons. People who are on the list coach youth sports or now have families with children who committed the mistake once in their younger lives. People get on the list for many reasons maybe there was a small age difference and the parents disagreed or maybe there was consent but still an age difference or maybe a lie on an age or maybe it was a true intent horrible crime. No matter what our community is so quick to judge without hearing the truth or reading the true police and court paperwork. STOP AND THINK ABOUT THIS: For those who know someone on the list who coaches a sport or who has children in their care don't you think they've been cleared for that? Give them and their families a break and leave them alone. As for this offender we are reading about I sure hope there are no children from his u years. Sad.
Education and income are not factors for sexual abuse- for victims or abusers; it cuts across all socio and economic lines. So, therefore, predators can be prominent members of the community, or the lowest, as well as their victims. Let’s not turn this into a class struggle.
I personally don’t care how many perpetrators sit in any amount of jails to keep them off the streets. That shouldn’t be the point. It most certainly shouldn't be about the cost to keep the criminal in jail. To use that as an argument is kind of shocking. We have the best legal system in the world, as flawed as it is. It’s still better than anyplace else. (Ever watch Locked Up Abroad?)
We should withhold “judgment” until it goes to trial and a verdict is delivered. In the mean time, talk to your children, be vigilant, and be involved in their lives. Parents are their children’s best defenders.
It is that kind of thoughts such as kids lie and DHHS does not good that causes people to not want to come forward and allows for continued abuse. You obviously have not been a victim of bad behavior and/or inapppropriateness. Maybe if you were in this situation you would feel different. It is so unfortunate their are people who will not even consider that this possibly happened. Sexual abuse is a serious illness.
It must be nice not to have to worry about how many people sit in jails or the cost associated with it, but for many tax paying Americans it is a real concern. Unfortunately we cannot afford as a State or a Country to lock sex offenders away for their lives but instead have to give out "slaps on wrists" so that we can make more room for yet more offenders. You can choose not to "personally care" about real concerns but something has to be done. The argument (as shocking as it is to you) is a real one and ever growing with the increase of crime in all areas. The judicial branch is constantly weighing crimes and punishment, making determinations on which crimes merit which punishment. I do agree that our justice system is the best in the world but disagree that it is flawed. I think when people see "slaps on the wrists" their failing to see what goes into the "slaps" and furthermore are forgetting that there is an always tilting scale of justice.
the sex offender list should be classified by crimes commited, as in level 1,2 & 3 or something of that sort.
I will not judge this man before his day in court.
I hope that IF he is found innocent the papers that have posted him on front page news will do the same in regards to reporting his innocence.
IF he is guilty, then the public humilation is warranted.
May the truth prevail.
Agreed, it's unfortunate that public opinion can destroy anyone's reputation
@ Jay- there needs be truth in sentencing, so therefore if you commit a crime you should expect to serve the sentence that the court sends down, imho. Period. That is our system. I have never heard of a sex offender, without murder, being sentenced to a life term, so I’m not sure where that came from, but perhaps you do? I could be wrong, but are you also suggesting a revolving door policy for jail? Because of money? Kick one out because one has to go in? Interesting thought, but I can see flaws in that.
In regard to your statement that “it must be nice to not have to worry,” I am neither an elitist nor wealthy, but I’m willing to pay my taxes, as a citizen should, to support our system. Do I always like it? Heck no, but it is what is expected. We need to keep our streets safe.
The article is about an accused offender, not prison reform. Yet the comments slide to adjudicating the individual and sentencing without due process. In my flawed way I was addressing those issues while expressing my opinion to not rush to judge and the man before he has his day in court.
@Jay
If we are constantly changing our justice system, doesn't that mean it was flawed to begin with?
I think people who see slaps on the wrist see it just as it is, a slap on the wrist
When it boils down to it, nothing about the changes that have been made seem to truly matter
What matters to the public at the end of the day is whether or not the crime fits the punishment, and if the person in question was guilty or innocent.
I can say that each state lists differently so someone who's crimes was in another state may be a life time registrar but in Maine would be ten years or the other way around. So people shouldn't judge if it says life time without knowing each state law.
@Daughter-In-Law of Accused--- First off, one usually doesn't get CHARGED with a sex offense unless something fishy has happened or an outright lie is being told. I am not casting judgment on his guilt, but to be even CHARGED with something like this leads me to believe he wasn't putting himself in a good position somewhere/somehow. Secondly, are you going to tell yourself "screw you" if he is found guilty and then come back on here and apologize to all of us for being so blind (IF he is found GUILTY). If he is not found guilty I WILL come back on this thread and comment, so I hope you, considering you are backing him so strongly, will do the same!
@Skeptical, I guess all I was trying to allude to was that if all punishments truly fit the crime then there would be deficit sentencing (if I can splice that term), the committed would overwhelm our system before our system could "rehabilitate" and release them. I am always troubled when people say things like "our judicial system is flawed" or "our courts are always letting people out" when in reality it's simply a means of controlling the "revolving door". As far as what the article reads, yes it's about an accused gentleman but this is an open forum and as do many of the bulldogs articles these comment sections tend to wonder in different directions. I apologize if I rambled beyond the topic.
@Billyboy, A Judicial system has to evolve, it does not mean it's flawed, rather it has to adapt to the changing socioeconomic time. Again, the slaps on the wrists come with many different conditions and factors and unless you have followed a case from beginning to end, sat through all the negotiations etc. it makes it much harder to comprehend from the outside. Public opinion does matter to a certain degree and it's unfortunate that papers don't have enough space on a page to completely explain the process from beginning to end. But I agree 100% with what you say, in the end it's about innocence or guilt, fitting the proper punishment to the crime and protecting society, I hope the courts examine this case very closely.
i'm guessing none of you will ever be selected for jury duty, since you all seem to be of the curious opinion that if somebody has been accused of something, they must be guilty.
Actually, not that it's anyone's business, but I WAS molested for many years as a child, and years later found the courage to confront the monstrous molester. Comments assuming I can't understand because I've never been in that situation are cruel and thoughtless, and are another example of leaping to judgment. Regardless of my personal experience I do have the ability to think clearly and assume innocence until found guilty. We have a justice system for a reason!
@Realistic
While daughter-in-law does sound a little silly for calling all of us "twits" and uneducated,
I think her point goes beyond just this one man and she is simply saying that no one should be condemned for their guilt until all facts are brought to light
But I do agree with you
@daughter-in-law
I also like how we were judged as uneducated twits.... hypocrite
You don't want people judging him, which I haven't, but yet you can call people "uneducated twits" without knowing anything about who you are talking about. Shame on you for acting like the people are are being nasty towards him. Your comments are just as hateful as others on here.
That would make me a victims advocate, Nancy. Enough already about our justice system. If He's got the cash for a good lawyer than this could all be swept under the rug anyway!!
To A Mom.. ""maybe there was a small age difference and the parents disagreed or maybe there was consent but still an age difference or maybe a lie on an age.."
Have you ever noticed that ALL the story's the offenders you are defending in your statement give are the SAME! "She was 13-14 and I was 18-19. She said she was 16 and we hooked up. Her parents didn't like me so they pressed charges..."
Yeah, same old story and still not the true facts, but they think it sounds better..
As for an offender being a coach?! That is NOT OK!
TOTALLY agree with JEESH !!! well said. ! .... I do know, as living it myself that it is very hard for children to get up the strength to come forward with this information. Afraid of what people will think of them. "Liars" as someone put it here.... so I commend them if this truly did happen. However, I ALSO have seen incidents where the age was just shy of beig legal, and as long as the relationship was going good.... then it was okay. as soon as the relationship went sour, then charges are pressed... so, yup... Definetly have to listen to all sides of every story BEFORE any judging is done. ! ! ! I truly hope this is a false charge, but if it is not, My heart goes out to all involved !
Ok, I'll take advantage of the comment section to make some comments:
1. "Innocent until proven guilty" is a legal construct meaning that society is not free to impose a penalty or sentence until guilt is proven. So many people seem to think that it implies that as an American we are not allowed to use our reason and good judgment because a judge has made no formal decree. Was Osama bin Laden innocent because he never went to court? Lee Harvey Oswald? Are you obligated to presume the man who just shot you to be innocent?
2. It seems to me that people in these posts have an exagerated view of their own importance. Does anyone seriously think that victims will be afraid to come forward because of what Nancy posts? Or that a judge and jury are going to put aside "beyond a reasonable doubt" because realistic thinks that where there is smoke there is fire? If y'all are getting yourselves all bent out of shape because of someone's personal opinion/comment on the Daily Bulldog comment board, you need to spend less time on facebook and more time in the real world of neighbors...and you know, people.
3. I don't know Mr. Seaward. I hope he didn't do what they say he did. I have seen some people charged falsely and I have seen some charged rightly. Whatever happened, I hope the truth will come out and justice will be served. I hope he never used his position to victimize anyone and until I find out differently I honor and thank him for what appears to be a life of service to others.