Northbridge couple found guilty of child rape

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Aug 09, 2013 @ 12:00 AM

Last update Aug 09, 2013 @ 12:08 AM

WORCESTER —

The victims cried and hugged as the jury delivered guilty verdicts on Thursday for the husband and wife charged with raping their two adopted children.

Joseph Mayotte, 50, and Linda Mayotte, 49, both of 67 Laura Lane, were each found guilty of counts of sexual abuse, he for charges involving their adopted daughter, she for charges involving their adopted son. The jury deliberated about seven hours following the nearly two-week trial in Worcester Superior Court.

Joseph Mayotte was found guilty on 11 counts relating to his abuse of the couple’s adopted daughter that started when she was 8 years old and lasted for nearly five years.

Linda Mayotte was found guilty on 18 counts relating to the abuse of their adopted son from when he was 13 through 15.

The couple adopted the children from Kazakhstan in 2004 and were both arrested in 2009 after the male victim reported his abuse to the police for the first time. In 2007, the female victim reported the abuse to friends, but recanted before telling the police again in 2009.

Both were acquitted on the “joint venture” charges where the assistant district attorney charged each with the other’s crimes. The joint venture charge suggests that each knew of the other's crimes and aided in their commission.

The charges included multiple counts of statutory rape of a child, indecent assault on a child and incest, among others. The child rape charge carries a potential sentence of life and a minimum of 10 years in prison.

“Justice has been served,” said Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Riddle following the verdict.

Joseph Mayotte was taken into custody following the reading of the verdict, but Linda Mayotte was absent from the court all day on Thursday.

A source familiar with the couple said Linda Mayotte’s absence was due to an apparent suicide attempt that sent her to the hospital.

Linda Mayotte testified during the trial that she attempted to commit suicide four times after the children were removed from her home in early June 2009 and including one attempt when she was arrested on June 16, 2009.

When she was arrested, police found her in her bedroom, hitting herself repeatedly with a gun that she had apparently attempted to shoot herself with, according to testimony during the trial. She testified the other attempts were by taking prescription pills and cutting her wrists.

Sentencing for both of the Mayottes is set for Aug. 22 at 11 a.m.

Contact Lindsay Corcoran at 508-634-7582 or lcorcoran@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @LacorcMDN.