Peabody Food Pantry: No Ties To Salem Man Accused Of Rape

PEABODY, MA — A Salem man is accused of taking a woman he knew through his work at a local food pantry to his Peabody office and raping her. Ralph S. Poillucci, 64, of Salem, was released on $5,000 bail and ordered to wear a GPS bracelet after pleading not guilty Monday in Peabody District Court to four rape charges.

The woman told police Poillucci offered her a ride home but instead took her to his office in Peabody, where he sexually assaulted her. The Salem News reported the victim is in her twenties and regularly eats lunch at the Citizens Inn Haven From Hunger on Wallis Street in Peabody, where Poillucci was a volunteer, but those claims were disputed by the nonprofit.

Corey Jackson, executive director of Citizens Inn, said the group has no volunteers with that name and that the food pantry does not serve lunch. He also noted the food pantry is not open on weekends; the alleged assault occurred on Saturday.

"There is a story here about a court case involving two people and an alleged rape," Jackson said. "I don't know the purpose of dragging the food pantry in other than to promote stigma around food insecurity and promote fear inside of those who need us most."