Couple Acquitted in Monroe County
By: Brittany Sweeney
Updated: February 18, 2013
Bangor, Northampton County- A former Monroe County couple was acquitted of all charges after being accused drugging a 13-year-old girl and having sexual with her. The not guilty verdict comes a year after Cassandra Smith and Christopher Hickler were arrested.
Smith says "when we found this out, we couldn't believe there was even a story like this. It blows your mind that something that wild can even be created." "This isn't something that I wish upon anyone that is innocent," says Hickler. In January of 2011 Smith and her fiance Hickler were accused of giving a 13-year-old girl drugs and alcohol, then having sexual contact with her. The accusations came after the girl stayed with the couple in their Monroe County home after her mother said she was getting into trouble where she lived. "She wanted us to take custody of her permanently and we told her No and I think that might come into play with why this happened and I think that she got in more trouble at home and this redirected the focus off of whatever she was doing," says Smith.
After deliberating for just a half an hour Friday the jury decided to drop all of the charges again Smith and Hickler and while the aquittal brings a major sigh of relief, they say the nightmare isn't over just yet. Hickler says "there's a lot of things we can't even get done because people still accuse us of this, so for the safety of our children and ours as well I think we are going to try a new beginning and start over." The couple has two little girls and the money they had been saving for a wedding is all gone. Smith says "to little girls you can't really talk about this type of thing. We tried to stay as normal as possible, but children and youth were involved and it was not normal."
Now, after their names are cleared the couple has one thing to say to the girl who turned their lives upsidedown. "I hope she takes this as a learning experience to be truthful for the rest of her life," says Smith. When this all started the couple lived in Pocono Summit, but due to the investigation they were unable to renew their lease, forcing them to move to Bangor, Northampton County. They say they are most likely going to move out of the area completely to keep their family safe.
Smith says "when we found this out, we couldn't believe there was even a story like this. It blows your mind that something that wild can even be created." "This isn't something that I wish upon anyone that is innocent," says Hickler. In January of 2011 Smith and her fiance Hickler were accused of giving a 13-year-old girl drugs and alcohol, then having sexual contact with her. The accusations came after the girl stayed with the couple in their Monroe County home after her mother said she was getting into trouble where she lived. "She wanted us to take custody of her permanently and we told her No and I think that might come into play with why this happened and I think that she got in more trouble at home and this redirected the focus off of whatever she was doing," says Smith.
After deliberating for just a half an hour Friday the jury decided to drop all of the charges again Smith and Hickler and while the aquittal brings a major sigh of relief, they say the nightmare isn't over just yet. Hickler says "there's a lot of things we can't even get done because people still accuse us of this, so for the safety of our children and ours as well I think we are going to try a new beginning and start over." The couple has two little girls and the money they had been saving for a wedding is all gone. Smith says "to little girls you can't really talk about this type of thing. We tried to stay as normal as possible, but children and youth were involved and it was not normal."
Now, after their names are cleared the couple has one thing to say to the girl who turned their lives upsidedown. "I hope she takes this as a learning experience to be truthful for the rest of her life," says Smith. When this all started the couple lived in Pocono Summit, but due to the investigation they were unable to renew their lease, forcing them to move to Bangor, Northampton County. They say they are most likely going to move out of the area completely to keep their family safe.
Comments
This is such a sad and unfair situation for this family. They tried to help this troubled child and now their reputations and finances suffer. I am sure this NY family has nothing to sue for. Years ago I was a Fresh Air mom and took a child from the Bronx for an entire summer. But for the grace of God this could have been my family. It makes me want to cry for those deserving children that would benefit from a program like this. I am sure many will be hesitant to participate in the future. I am thankful for the child I had. She was a delight to have and we still keep in touch.
KATHY K.
February 16, 2013 at 8:44 am
If the jury deliberated for only half an hour, I'd guess that the Monroe County DA had a flimsy case at best. The taxpayers of Monroe County should be mad as heck they their taxpayer dollars are being wasted bringing frivilous charges all the way to trial. They should let their displeasure know at the next election that they do not stand for personal vendettas being played out in court at their expense. I hope the couple can move on with their lives after this, and I hope the piece of trash and her family are sued for making false accusations are disrupting this couple's emotional and financial well being.
Jeffrey C.
February 16, 2013 at 6:45 am
