WCBC

August 11th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports that kidnapping, rape and assault charges against a 49-year-old Cumberland man were dismissed Tuesday in Allegany County Circuit Court due to a lack of credibility of the victim and lack of cooperation of the victim and her family with the prosecutor’s office. Judge Gary G. Leasure presided in the brief hearing in which Gregory Allen Lincoln of Maryland Avenue appeared to face the charges stemming from allegations that in October 2014, a 13-year-old girl was abducted on a city street and then taken to a private residence where she alleged she was raped. Lincoln, a registered sex offender who is currently serving a state jail term in an unrelated matter, was escorted into the court room by correctional officers of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Lincoln, who was wearing security restraints, appeared with attorney James F. Elliott of the Public Defender’s Office. Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Jacqueline R. Brandlen informed the court the state could not proceed with charges against Lincoln in the case due to a lack of credibility of the victim and the lack of cooperation by the victim and her family. Brandlen told the court the case had changed significantly since the charges were filed and that the state could not proceed with the case. Lincoln was arrested in January following investigation by Cumberland Police, the Allegany County Department of Social Services Child Protective Services and the C3I Unit. He was charged by warrant with second-degree rape, second-degree assault, kidnapping a child under age 16 and false imprisonment. All charges were dismissed Tuesday morning in circuit court and Lincoln was returned to a state prison to continue serving an 18-month prison term stemming from a conviction of possession of firearms. The violation occurred in July 2014. Lincoln began serving the jail term on March 1, according to electronic court documents.