Former Foxboro Teacher Will Not Face Charges in Sexual Abuse Case

The Norfolk County District Attorney's office has announced that former Foxboro teacher and Boy Scout leader William Sheehan will not face charges in a sexual abuse case due to his case of advance dementia.

After a psychological exam commissioned by prosecutors, Sheehan was deemed unfit for trial due to his medical condition according to the Boston Globe.

This week, about two dozen alleged victims were notified that the Sheehan would not be prosecuted for his alleged crimes. If taken to trial, Sheehan would have faced 11 felonies – 9 counts of indecent assault and battery on child under 14 and two counts of indecent assault and battery on child 14 or over.

Sheehan, 74, currently lives in a nursing home in Florida. 

In 2012, victims of Sheehan began to disclose the incidents to police. According to court documents, Sheehan allegedly sexually assaulted numerous male children under the age of 15 at several locations in town – behind his 81 Willow St. home, at Ahern Middle School and at Cocasset River Park from 1978 to 1981.

In September 2012, police attempted to serve a search warrant but were unable to after discovering that Sheehan was suffering from late-stage Alzheimer's.