Chapman Not Guilty Of Exposing Himself To Prison Staffers
BOSTON (CBS) - Convicted child rapist Wayne Chapman said nothing as he became a free man after 40 years in prison. The 71-year old suffers from Parkinson's disease and was rolled in a wheelchair to a waiting car outside the courthouse.
Chapman was set to be released last year. But, nurses at the correctional facility in Shirley said he exposed himself and performed lewd acts. A guilty verdict would have kept him behind bars.
Wendy Murphy represents some of Chapman's victims.
"The system has let down my clients. The system has let down all of us," said attorney Wendy Murphy.
Chapman is a self-admitted serial child rapist. He also remains the prime suspect in the disappearance of a 10-year old boy from a South Lawrence pool in the 1970's.
"For a guy like this, a prolific sex offender, who has been convicted of sexually abusing at least 11 children in three states and admitting to sexually abusing 100 children, it's good reason to be afraid," said Murphy.
Chapman served 30 years. When that prison term ended he was civilly committed because he was deemed too dangerous for release.
Last year, two psychiatrists concluded Chapman should be released citing his age and his Parkinson's disease.
Eric Tennen represented him in a civil case.
"He's caused a lot of harm in his life. But, I can tell you at this point in his life, who he is and how he's deteriorated, he's not a risk. He's not a danger," said Eric Tennen, Chapman's civil lawyer.
Wendy Murphy and the victims she represents don't believe it.
"He has not paid his debt to society. And, he's not safe to be around anybody," said Murphy.
Chapman's team would not say where Chapman was staying and said they were working on a long-term care facility.
The sex offender registry lists Chapman as a level 3 sex offender who is homeless somewhere on the streets of Boston.
