The Thomaston Select Board issued an apology letter to the public on Wednesday, a week after its embroiled emergency medical services chief resigned from the position.
Anthony Leo announced on Nov. 13 that he would be leaving the post he was recently rehired for, according to the Midcoast Villager. Leo’s rehiring came after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenager.
“The town needs to feel safe and secure with their Fire and EMS departments, and at this point in time, they don’t, and I can’t have that,” Leo wrote to his personal Facebook account following notification to the board of his resignation, the Villager reported.
Leo was charged in September 2023 with gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact and sexual abuse of a minor for offenses that allegedly happened in 2003 against a 14-year-old girl, when he was 28.
Leo entered an Alford plea in Knox County court on a single count of sexual abuse of a minor, meaning he didn’t admit to a crime but admitted that the court had enough evidence to convict him if the case went to trial. As part of the plea deal, the charges of gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact were dropped.
In the Wednesday letter, the selectboard apologized for its failure to consider the impacts that Leo’s hiring would have on members of the community, especially those who had experiences with assault.
“We are truly sorry for not fully understanding those possible impacts of our actions. We have learned much from this experience,” the board wrote.
Thomaston is in the process of hiring a new EMS director, according to the letter.
