By Lisa Redmond
Lowell Sun
LOWELL, Mass. — A Lowell police officer accused of using the power of his badge to rape two prostitutes and solicit sexual favors from two others in the back seat of his cruiser allegedly told investigators that he was untouchable because he was a cop.
In a taped confession, Aravanh Lakmany allegedly admitted that he had sex with prostitutes about 20 times while on duty in his cruiser and numerous other times in his personal car, according to prosecutor Thomas O’Reilly.
Lakmany denied knowing the women who have accused him of rape, but he told police that he felt “on top of the woman with the badge” and that “no one could touch us because we’re cops,” O’Reilly stated in court documents.
In Lowell Superior Court yesterday, Lakmany, 31, of Dracut, was released on personal recognizance after pleading innocent to charges of extortion, three counts of rape and three counts of solicitation of prostitutes.
Lakmany, a six-year city officer who was suspended without pay late last month with his indictment, was also ordered to stay away from the alleged victims.
Defense attorney John Cox, who represents Lakmany, declined to comment on his client’s behalf after the arraignment.
Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee has called the allegations “extremely troubling,” and if true, they are “a serious breach of the public trust.”
O’Reilly alleges in court documents that the Police Department received information this spring that Lakmany had been involved with a number of prostitutes while on duty.
A number of women were interviewed, and four of those testified before a grand jury that Lakmany had allegedly solicited them between 2010 and 2011.
O’Reilly alleges that Lakmany approached the women, would have them sit in the back seat of the cruiser and drive to an isolated area in the city where they would engage in oral sex. Three of the women said Lakmany paid them, but two woman allege that he forced them to have sex, O’Reilly states.
The first woman alleges that in 2009 or early 2010, she met Lakmany while she was “working.” He was allegedly in his personal vehicle and identified himself as a police officer by displaying his badge, O’Reilly stated.
Lakmany allegedly told the woman he knew she had outstanding warrants for her arrest and that if she did what he wanted he would not arrest her, according to court documents.
In exchange for a sexual favor, he allegedly indicated she would “work” in his area and he would never arrest her. The woman asked for money, but was never paid.
The next time the woman saw Lakmany, he was in uniform in the Appleton Street area. Lakmany, who worked nights, shined the cruiser light on her and told her to meet him one street over. When he arrived, the woman got into the back seat of the cruiser. Lakmany allegedly drove to an isolated area.
While the woman was in the car, Lakmany allegedly noted her outstanding warrants in a “veiled threat” for her to comply, O’Reilly said. Lakmany allegedly had sex with the woman in the back seat of the cruiser. Then he allegedly drove her back to the Appleton Street area. This occurred four or five times, O’Reilly said.
The second woman stated that in 2010, she had just been discharged from Saints Medical Center and was in the area of Appleton and Gorham streets when Lakmany’s cruiser pulled up, O’Reilly states.
Lakmany allegedly told the woman that he knew who she was from her arrest photos and offered her a ride home. When she got into the cruiser, the woman said the officer demanded sex.
When she refused, Lakmany allegedly told the woman he didn’t like being told no and continued driving, the prosecutor states. He drove to the construction area on Jackson Street. He parked, put his gun belt on the front seat and got into the back seat with the woman, forcing her to perform sex on him.
Afterward, Lakmany allegedly drove the woman home, and after she got out of the cruiser, he threw a couple of dollars and a half-pack of cigarettes at her, O’Reilly states.
His next court date is Aug. 30 for a pretrial conference.
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