Charges against a Prince George's County candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates accused of molesting a child have been dropped.
A grand jury found there was not sufficient evidence to indict Michael Hethmon, a Republican running for the House of Delegates in the 23rd District, the southern part of the county.
“If the grand jury decline to indict, they do it because they feel there’s not enough evidence to indict,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney spokesman John Erzen said. “Now obviously those hearings are confidential, so I can’t go in to any reasons they gave specifically.”
A woman who was caring for Hethmon's 89-year-old father told police that Hethmon inappropriately touched her 8-year-old daughter in a barn at his home. The mother claimed Hethmon offered to get some hay off the girl, then touched her inappropriately and tried to get the girl to touch him, as well, according to court documents.
Hethmon denied all the charges.
Two years ago, the child’s mother was found guilty of faking her own abduction to get out of a court battle involving allegations of fraud and forgery. That case also involved a person she was caring for.
“The woman’s a very charming woman, and I knew absolutely nothing about her background,” Hethmon said.
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He found her through a reputable online service for caregivers.
“You think that the verification service that they provide is going to help you,” he said.
The woman who brought the allegations could not be reached for comment.
Hethmon is a nationally known author and attorney most famous for his work to fight immigration into the U.S.
