Sex assault charges dropped against Patrick aide

March 20, 2008 04:59 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff

Florida prosecutors dropped a case against a top official in the Patrick administration who had been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in a Gulf Coast resort.

Officials went months without filing formal charges against Charles Stanley McGee, the 38-year-old assistant secretary for policy and planning for Massachusetts. McGee was arrested Dec. 28 and held in jail overnight on a $300,000 bond.

Officials in the Office of the State Attorney for Lee County, Fla., released court documents today that stated no charges would be filed in the case. Florida officials refused to comment further.

According to police reports, McGee was accused of performing oral sex on the teen, who was a guest at the Gasparilla Inn & Club, a 95-year-old hotel and championship golf course in Boca Grande. Massachusetts officials placed him on unpaid leave from his $115,000 a year position.

McGee's lawyer, Charles W. Rankin, issued a two-sentence statement today about the resolution of the case.

"The State Attorney in Lee County, Florida, after a thorough investigation, has decided that no charges should be brought against Stan McGee," the statement said. "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."