Former Husson President Reacts to Rev. Carlson Investigation

By Caroline Connolly
WABI
August 3, 2012

http://www.wabi.tv/news/32247/former-husson-president-reacts-to-rev-carlson-investigation

State Conservation Commissioner, William Beardsley, is speaking out in defense of his decision to not report concerns raised about Rev. Robert Carlson during his time at the former Husson College.

Carlson committed suicide last November when he learned state police were investigating him based on allegations of sexual abuse. In a 104 page police report, released Wednesday, an interview with Beardsley reveals the former Husson College president may have had warning signs about Carlson, who was serving as the school's chaplain at the time.

In 2005 and 2006, Beardsley received two phone calls from people alluding to misconduct by Carlson.

"A friend of mine in Vermont said that he had third hand information about, from somebody, that wanted me to know that Bob Carlson was not who I thought he would be," said Beardsley.

The commissioner didn't follow up the concern until about a year later, when the second call was made. This time, it was from someone who claimed to have had an affair with Carlson.

Beardsley said, "They wanted me to get the message to pass on to Bob Carlson that if he didn't leave Husson, that they would disclose their relationship. I said are we dealing with minors or children, or Husson students or anything like that, and they said no."

Beardsley brought Carlson into his office to relay the information, and within 24 hours, Carlson resigned.

"I remember he said something to the effect of, 'Bill, I want you to know I've never done anything unlawful," said Beardsley.

But the state police report would suggest otherwise. It quotes Beardsley as saying, following one of the calls, he was left with the impression that Carlson had had a sexual relationship with a seminary student from Massachusetts. When asked if that concerned him, Beardsley said, "I had no real reason to be, at that point, because he was gone and I took action."

According to Husson University spokesman, Julie Green, staff have to follow a certain protocol when dealing with accusations of sexual abuse, which includes reporting it to police.

Green said, "The person would be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the issue."

But Beardsley said he never received any such claims, which contradicts a police interview in the report where a person, whose name was omitted, said a student went directly to him to report the abuse.

"In my 22 years at Husson, nobody has ever reported abuse or sexual relationships with a minor," said Beardsley.

The commissioner doesn't believe he mishandled the situation, but did concede that hindsight is 20/20.

Beardsley said, "I'm much more sensitized to the fact that one should vet people very carefully when you hire people in this day and age, and so, certainly, that's a lesson learned."