04/30/2007

The Saratogian

In Regan saga, justice has been served

Everyone likes a story with a happy ending and, by most counts, the case of rapist and would-be kidnapper John Regan is one.

Regan's double life in Connecticut and his ultimate capture in Saratoga Springs was recounted in detail Sunday on Dateline NBC. The show featured in part Regan's attempted abduction on Oct. 31, 2005 of a Saratoga Springs High School track star in the school parking lot after practice.

The Saratoga story could have had a terrible ending. The van into which Regan tried to pull the local girl contained ropes with pre-tied slipknots, an electric saw that can cut through concrete, a tarp, a shovel, a rake and digital cameras. And all the curtains had been drawn and shades pulled in the house on Washington Street to which Regan had access.

But the girl broke away and quick-thinking school officials foiled Regan's getaway by following him and calling police.

Her escape and his immediate arrest were the first two pieces of good news. Here are some more: The refusal of Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III to plea bargain resulted in a sentence of 12 years in a maximum security prison, plus five years on parole. Regan was also subsequently sentenced to three years in a Connecticut sexual assault case.

The Regan case has a direct bearing on Connecticut's decision to drop its statute of limitations in rape cases, and bolstered New York's successful push to do the same.

The Saratoga story broke the spell for people in Waterbury who couldn't believe this pillar of the community could be guilty of sexual assault. The police there made the woman that Regan had raped feel like he was the victim.

The Waterbury rape victim won a lawsuit against the police there, and used the money to launch an initiative to help, crime victims. Her Web site janedoenomore.com, debuted on Friday. D.A. Murphy and Saratoga Springs Police Chief Ed Moore are advising.

This woman has bravely stepped forward to strip away the shame of being raped in order to help others.