Trial Ruled Out in Woody Allen Sex Abuse Case

Woody Allen lashed out Friday at his ex-lover Mia Farrow, police and a Connecticut prosecutor who said he was not going to try the filmmaker even though he believes Allen molested his daughter.

Allen said that Farrow, the prosecutor and police formed an “unwholesome alliance” against him. “Their cheap scheming reeks of sleaze and deception,” he said.

The filmmaker held a news conference soon after Litchfield, Conn., State’s Atty. Frank Maco said he would not press a sexual abuse charge, despite his belief that there was “probable cause” to support it.

Maco said state police investigators had drawn up an arrest warrant for Allen but he decided there was no “compelling interest” in further pursuing the sexual abuse allegations.

Later, Farrow’s lawyer said her client agreed with the prosecutor’s decision to spare 8-year-old Dylan from the trauma of a trial.

Farrow felt “everything that could possibly be done was done to protect the child,” Eleanor Alter said at a separate news conference that Farrow did not attend.

Allen, 58, who was accused of sexually fondling Dylan in an attic at Farrow’s Connecticut country house in August, 1992, said the case was dropped because “there is no chance they could possibly win.”

Allen has not seen Dylan in 14 months. He read a rambling five-page statement apologizing to her for his lengthy absence.

“I want to send this message to my little girl: I’m sorry I missed your eighth birthday, but they just wouldn’t let me,” Allen said. “I love you, and I miss you. And don’t worry--the dark forces will not prevail.”

Allen called on Farrow, his former lover and co-star, to engage in a truce in their much-publicized breakup and battle for custody of their three children.

“The only prerequisite I have,” Allen said in his only light moment, “is that you stop sending me bills from Alan Dershowitz.” The prominent lawyer had advised Farrow.

“If the Arabs in Israel can do it, we can,” Allen added.

But Farrow’s attorney said Allen had other requirements, mostly that Farrow allow him immediate visitation rights to their children.

“Mr. Allen’s idea of peace is for us to give up everything and he should see the children right away,” Alter said.

Farrow, who won custody of the three children in June, is trying to void Allen’s adoption of Dylan and her 15-year-old brother, Moses.

Farrow was Allen’s lover of 12 years before they split up in January, 1992, over Allen’s affair with Farrow’s adopted daughter, 22-year-old Soon-Yi Previn.

An ugly court fight followed for custody of Dylan and Moses, both adopted, and 5-year-old Satchel, their biological son.