Mar 24, 2007 3:01 pm US/Eastern
Brooklyn Janitor: I 'Was Scared For My Life'
Pablo Guzman Talks To Francis Evelyn, Wrongly Accused Of Raping Child
by Pablo Guzmán
BROOKLYN (CBS) ―
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Francis Evelyn, the janitor at P.S. 91 for 19 years, was arrested and accused of raping an 8-year-old girl earlier this week, but the charges were later dropped.
CBS
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All charges against Francis Evelyn, the janitor at P.S. 91 accused of raping an 8-year-old, were dropped on March 23. He then spoke of his ordeal exclusively with CBS 2's Pablo Guzman.
CBS
From Monday through Friday afternoon, Francis Evelyn lived through a hell few people should ever experience. Here's a man who had never been arrested before, never been questioned by police. And not only was he picked up at his job by detectives Monday -- he was accused of one of the worst crimes possible -- the rape of an 8-year-old girl. A student at P.S. 91 in Brooklyn where he has been a janitor for 19 years.
Now, Evelyn is talking exclusively to CBS 2 about his ordeal.
"They say I did it!" Evelyn said Friday night. "They say they have proof! DNA! I say, how?
"Now everyone thinks I'm that man. That I rape an 8-year-old girl. Where do I get my name back?"
The same team in the Brooklyn district attorney's office went after the mother and stepfather charged with killing little Nixzmary Brown. This time, however, something did not seem right. As they interviewed the girl, Executive Assistant District Attorney Ama Dwimoh decided that the child was not credible (in fact, she had a history of accusing many people before).
Until more facts could be brought in, Dwimoh asked the court Tuesday to drastically lower Evelyn's bail from $150,000 to letting him go basically on nothing more than his assurance, his word, that he would return to court. And release him not just from anywhere -- but from Rikers Island.
"I was scared for my life," Evelyn said. "The Corrections officers -- they thought I was dirt. Everyone thought I had raped a child.
"When I got out Tuesday night, I couldn't even bring myself to go home. I knew cameramen would be out there. On the bus, a woman opposite me was reading the Spanish paper, with me on the cover. 'The rapist.' At first, I covered my head with my hat. But I'm not that man. I took my hat off, and raised my head."
Family and friends stood by his side these four long days. And they were in court as the assistant D.A. told the judge, "Your honor, we are asking all charges be dismissed."
Outside, there was crying and lots of hugs. "Insufficient evidence," is what Dwimoh would say publicly. But it means the girl's story is not so. Counselors will now try to find out what is wrong with her, why she tells these stories.
Much later, Evelyn invited CBS 2 into his home. When asked what went through his mind when they said he could go, Evelyn didn't hesitate.
"Free at last," he said.
Make no mistake though, he is still angry at a system he said must be fixed.
"Someone else will be next," Evelyn said.
Although they have not contacted him directly, the Department of Education said they have reinstated Evelyn back to his job at the school.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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