A Plymouth police officer and her husband were charged Thursday with repeatedly raping a teenaged foster child living in their home for years.
But the couple, through their attorneys, insisted the allegations were the fabrications of a troubled young man with a grudge.
Plymouth Assistant District Attorney James Duffy said the alleged assaults took place over several years and included oral sex, sexual touching and intercourse.
Officer Samantha Pelrine, 31, and her husband, Daniel Forand, 37, both of Plymouth, pleaded not guilty in Plymouth District Court Thursday to a slew of charges— all vigorously denied by their lawyers.
Forand faces 20 charges including multiple counts of child rape. Pelrine faces four counts, including aggravated rape of a child with force.
A rape conviction carries a possible life sentence.
Their lawyers, Joseph Krowski and Tamari Kovach, said the allegations were made up after a dispute in which the couple asked the boy to leave their home.
Even so, the alleged victim had remained close to the couple, exchanging cordial messages up until he filed for a restraining order last week, saying he was terrified of them, the attorneys said.
Duffy asked District Court judge Kristen Stone to set bail for both at $250,000 cash.
After hearing from their lawyers, the judge ordered Pelrine held on $10,000 cash and Forand, on $25,000. They were ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and anyone under 18. They were also ordered to surrender all firearms. A probable cause hearing was scheduled for June 8.
In a news release, Plymouth Police said they were “appalled and deeply disturbed by the allegations. We hold our officers to the highest standards and expect them to uphold their sworn duty both on duty and off.”
Pelrine was placed on paid administrative leave earlier this week, though Thursday’s news release said her “duty status is currently under review.”
Her paid suspension has been the topic of social media speculation for days as prosecutors weighed charges against the couple.
At Thursday’s arraignment, prosecutors offered no evidence beyond the statements of the alleged victim.
At the hearing, Duffy outlined the disturbing and graphic allegations, at first involving only Forand and the alleged victim, a 14-year-old foster child taken in by Pelrine in 2018. He is now 21.
The prosecutor said at first Pelrine refused to participate, describing a time she entered a bedroom where Forand was allegedly raping the victim, and turned around and walked out.
But a year later, when the boy was 15, Duffy alleged, Pelrine entered the room as an assault was taking place. “I don’t want to take his virginity,” she is quoted as saying.
“He’s already lost his virginity,” Forand responded, according to Duffy.
Pelrine, wearing only a bra, lay down on the bed, and had intercourse with the boy at Forand’s direction, the prosecutor said.
The alleged assaults continued until 2025, Duffy said.
Tovach said the boy fabricated the accusations after the couple refused to allow his girlfriend to sleep over at the house. After he tried to sneak her in, the attorney said, he was ordered to move out.
“Only he knows the motivation,” Tovach said.
The attorney said the young man was ‘disingenuous.’ He was ‘manipulative’ when he swore in court on March 17 that he was afraid of the couple. He neglected to mention he had spoken to Pelrine the same day, was in regular contact with the couple and visited the house often, Tovach said.
Krowski described Pelrine as a dedicated young woman who in 2022 realized her lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. Before that she worked as a family support advocate for a local social service agency. She was a graduate of Plymouth South High School and had a degree in criminal justice from Salem State.
She has a clean record,” he added, “not so much as a speeding ticket.”
Town records show Pelrine ran for school committee unsuccessfully in 2021.
After Thursday’s arraignment, the judge impounded the case, sealing it from public view. The dockets are no longer visible on the trial court’s website.
On March 15, the alleged victim came to the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Middleborough to report he had been sexually assaulted, first by Forand and then by Forand and Pelrine together, numerous times between 2018 and 2025.
The couple was arrested around 6 a.m. Thursday without incident by state police at their home. Also involved were the Plymouth County Detective Unit, MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, MSP Troop D Detectives, and US. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.