McGee charges dropped; sheriff defends investigators

All charges against a 38-year-old Boston man in connection with an alleged December 28 sexual assault on a teenage boy at the steam room of the Gasparilla Inn have been dismissed.

Carl Stanley McGee, a top aide to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, had been facing sexual battery charges in connection with the incident.

In a memo to the court, Assistant State Attorney Francine Donnorummo wrote that there was no physical evidence collected that would place McGee and the victim in the steam room.

“The towels, which may have been a possible source of DNA evidence from perspiration, semen or other sources were not identified for placed in evidence for forensic examination, nor was the steam room itself investigated for possible forensic evidence.”

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, pictured, issued a statement Thursday in response to the prosector’s memo.

“As is our practice with all criminal incidents that come to our attention, the matter of Carl Stanley McGee was thoroughly investigated given the available scene evidence and any subsequent evidence that could be developed by our investigators,” the sheriff said.

“The burden of proof for law enforcement is rooted in ‘probable cause’ which we believe was present in this case. We also understand that the burden of proof is a much higher threshold for the state attorney; that being ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.”

The prosecutor noted that there were no witnesses to the alleged assault, and that the only potential witness was asleep outside the room where the assault had allegedly taken place. This witness, prosecutors said, was never identified or questioned.

Prosecutors also noted that the alleged victim had difficulty identifying the Massachusetts man as his attacker. Also, prosecutors said that they could find no “corroborating evidence to support the child’s rendition of his being forcibly sexually battered.”

“The State Attorney in Lee County, Florida, after a thorough investigation, has decided that no charges should be brought against Stan McGee,” said attorney Charles Rankin. “Mr. McGee believes the decision by the Florida prosecutor not to pursue this case speaks for itself, and he looks forward to going on with his life.”