Worcester ADA Christopher Hodgens

When the clergy abuse crisis broke, March 2002, District Attorney John J. Conte claimed he issued a grand jury subpoena to the Worcester  Diocese.

Worcester ADA Christopher Hodgens was placed in charge of the investigation of all documentation gathered.

Not one prosecution occurred of any Worcester diocesan priest. 

Friday, December 16, 2005

Youth official’s case in assault continued
Director accused of slapping two boys

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER— Assault and battery charges against Adolfo M. Arrastia, the outgoing executive director of the Worcester Youth Center, have been continued without findings in Central District Court.

Mr. Arrastia, 55, of 5 Pleasant St., Southbridge, was arraigned Oct. 8 on charges he slapped two boys on the back of their heads at a July 15 block party at Beaver Brook Park. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.

Judge David Ricciardone ordered Wednesday that the charges be continued without findings for one year, to be dismissed at that time if Mr. Arrastia has no further difficulties with the law. Mr. Arrastia will remain on pretrial probation during the one-year period. As a condition of pretrial probation, he was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victims, an 11-year-old boy and the boy’s 13-year-old cousin.

Judge Ricciardone’s disposition of the case was as recommended by Assistant District Attorney Robert J. Iaocavelli and Mr. Arrastia’s lawyer, Peter L. Ettenberg.

Mr. Arrastia, who was named executive director of the youth center 10 years ago, said he is leaving the center Tuesday and relocating to San Jose, Calif., with his family. Mr. Ettenberg said yesterday that the move had been planned for some time and was not related to the charges that were leveled against his client.

April 17, 2005

Conte isn't interested in help - Victims' rights group troubled by kiss-off

Dianne Williamson, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)

Kiss-offs come in many forms but they're still kiss-offs, even if they're unstintingly polite and bear the seal of the Worcester district attorney.

A well-meaning nonprofit group recently received a royal kiss-off as it tried to open channels of communication between victims of abuse and law enforcement authorities. And if we require another reminder that District Attorney John J. Conte has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, we need look no further than his cool reception to VictimPower.

VictimPow-er.org is a novel approach to aiding victims of sexual abuse. Aware that victims are often hesitant or fearful to come forward, at least initially, the Web site offers them a safe place to make an anonymous report, while at the same time providing police or district attorneys with information that could aid them in investigations. Unlike anonymous phone tips, it also enables victims to communicate back and forth with law enforcement while remaining anonymous as long as they wish - or until they become comfortable enough to identify themselves.

Friday, February 4, 2005

Failed defense raised again

Sex suspect argues setup

WORCESTER— The lawyer for a Shrewsbury man accused of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a 4-year-old girl argued yesterday in a court hearing that charges should be dismissed because the incident was a police sting and the child in question did not exist.

During the meeting, the undercover officer said she had a 4-year-old foster child with whom Mr. Bell could have sex for $200, according to police and prosecutors. Mr. Bell allegedly agreed to pay $200 to have intercourse with the child, who was said to be waiting at a nearby park, according to Mr. Reilly.

Thursday, December 30, 2004

Retired priest to be evaluated

WORCESTER— A retired priest accused of sexually assaulting a child may undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.

The Rev. John J. Szantyr, 73, of Waterbury, Conn., is awaiting trial in Central District Court on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14. The charges date back to the mid-1980s, when Rev. Szantyr was assigned to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish on Ward Street. The sexual assaults are alleged to have occurred on various dates from June 1, 1985, to Dec. 12, 1987. The alleged victim, a boy, is now in his late 20s.

The criminal complaints against Rev. Szantyr were issued in 2003, after the alleged victim told investigators the man he knew as “Father John” touched him in an indecent manner when he was a child attending Our Lady of Czestochowa and Rev. Szantyr was a priest assigned to the parish.

A preliminary psychological examination of Rev. Szantyr by a court-designated forensic psychologist was conducted Dec. 16 at the request of Assistant District Attorney Joseph J. Reilly III, according to court records. The case was continued to Feb. 17 for a hearing.

Friday, December 17, 2004

Dismissal sought in rape, drug case

Gardner lawyer charged in assault on teen girl

WORCESTER— A Gardner lawyer accused of rape and drug offenses is asking that the charges against him be dismissed.

Citing case law, Mr. Aloise said there was no evidence suggesting that force was used or that the alleged victim was rendered “wholly insensible” or “unconscious” as a result of her consumption of alcohol and drugs and was therefore incapable of consenting to sexual relations.

Christine M. Tetreault, an assistant district attorney in Hampden County who has been assigned as a special prosecutor in the case, told Judge Agnes she would rely on the minutes of the testimony before the grand jury and the reasonable inferences that could be drawn from it, which she said were “more than sufficient” to support the charges against Mr. LeBlanc.

Saturday, November 6, 2004

DA will appeal ruling on evidence

Seized drug, guns inadmissible

WORCESTER— Prosecutors plan to appeal a judge's ruling suppressing evidence in the case of four men identified as suspects in a fatal shooting in Fitchburg last year.

In an 11-page ruling last week, Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Fishman found that police lacked legal justification to stop the vehicle and ordered the suppression of the guns and drugs police said they found.

District Attorney John J. Conte said Thursday his office planned to appeal Judge Fishman's ruling to the state Appeals Court.

Thursday, November 4, 2004

Police wrong in drug arrests

Evidence is suppressed

WORCESTER— State police lacked legal justification to stop a motor vehicle in which guns and drugs were allegedly found after a fatal shooting last year in Fitchburg, a judge has ruled. ...........The stop by Troopers Christopher Dougherty and James Fitzgerald on Route 2 in Harvard...........

In finding that police lacked a reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle, Judge Fishman noted the discrepancies in the year and color of the Cadillac described leaving the shooting scene, the “inconsistency” in the number of suspects, the lack of “distinguishing characteristics” that would separate the suspects from the general population of black males, the length of time that had passed from the shooting until the stop occurred and the lack of physical proximity of the stop to the reported criminal activity.

District Attorney John J. Conte could not be reached for comment yesterday on whether his office planned to appeal the ruling.

Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Judge rules pedophile, 69, not dangerous

Former Leominster resident admitted molesting 15-20 boys

WORCESTER— Prosecutors failed to prove a 69-year-old convicted child molester met the legal definition of a sexually dangerous person, a Superior Court judge has ruled

On Oct. 19, Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. dismissed a petition filed by Assistant District Attorney Peter J. Pratt seeking Kenneth Wilson's commitment for one day to life to the Massachusetts Treatment Center for sex offenders in Bridgewater. The judgment followed a jury-waived trial in Worcester Superior Court during which there was conflicting expert testimony on the question of whether Mr. Wilson, formerly of Leominster, met the legal criteria for a sexually dangerous person.

It was Mr. Pratt's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Wilson had been convicted of a sex offense and suffered from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that made him likely to re-offend if not confined to a secure facility.

October 20, 2004

NO BILL RETURNED: DA JOHN CONTE'S STAFF FAILS TO GET AN INDICTMENT

Once against a familiar situation arises.

Worcester District Attorney John Conte has failed to have justice applied fairly in the case of a Catholic priest of the Worcester Diocese who was charged with an allegation of child sexual abuse.

A “no bill’’ was returned by the Worcester County grand jury in a case involving Father Raymond Messier. Father Messier was placed on leave by the Diocese and later resigned his pastorate after allegations of sexual abuse of children were made known. A “no bill’’ means the grand jury decided not to issue an indictment against Father Messier. Circumstances of the allegation presented to the grand jury are not known.

October 15, 2004

City man gets probation in sex assault

WORCESTER - A 61-year-old city man has been placed on probation after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges.

George Costello of 85 Natural History Drive had been charged with two counts of raping a boy under age 16, but pleaded guilty Wednesday in Worcester Superior Court to reduced charges - two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14.

At the recommendation of Assistant District Attorney Richard L. Greco and Mr. Costello's lawyer, Anthony M. Salerno, Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. placed Mr. Costello on probation for five years. As conditions of probation, Mr. Costello was ordered to register as a sex offender, to undergo a sex offender evaluation and any related counseling recommended by the Probation Department, and to have no contact with the victim.

The indictments against Mr. Costello charged him with sexually assaulting the victim, now 32 years old, between Jan. 1, 1985, and Dec. 31, 1987, in Worcester.

A related civil suit in which Mr. Costello and others have been named as defendants is still pending in Worcester Superior Court. Mr. Costello retired last year from his job as a case specialist in the Central District Court clerk's office.
Voice note: So if you work in John's building you get a deal! This clerk and John Conte should be held to a "higher" standard.

May 2, 2004

State Police officials probed

The US Attorney's Office is investigating allegations that top State Police commanders covered up for as many as 21 troopers or officers suspected of improperly accepting extra pay, having "no show" jobs, or engaging in other wrongdoing, a federal prosecutor confirmed yesterday.

The investigation began in January when John A. Burns, then the State Police major in charge of internal affairs, gave a lengthy recorded statement to two FBI agents, according to Burns's lawyer, Joel P. Suttenberg, who attended portions of the FBI interview.

April 22, 2004

1976 rape case to be prosecuted

Accuser is dead but testimony extant 1977 testimony crucial to trial

WORCESTER- The alleged victim has since died, but the district attorney's office still intends to prosecute the case of a Worcester man charged with participating in the rape of a woman at gunpoint more than 27 years ago.....

Assistant District Attorney Kathleen M. DelloStritto told Judge Jeffrey A. Locke at a bail hearing yesterday in Worcester Superior Court that she still intended to pursue the case against Mr. Lee, despite the fact that the alleged victim has died.

While acknowledging that the prosecution's case had "deteriorated with the passage of time,"........

Voice note: it appears the DA can prosecute an "average" citizen for past accusation when he chooses . With the Worcester Dioceses, Mr. Conte proclaims time as an excuse for not prosecuting. Again illustrating the double standards routinely applied within the Worcester DA's Office.

April 16, 2004

Prosecutors to appeal ruling for new trial

WORCESTER- Prosecutors will appeal a judge's ruling granting a new trial for a city man convicted of shooting his neighbor

Last month, Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. allowed a motion filed by Mr. Moquin's appellate lawyer, W. Matthew Iler Jr., seeking a new trial. In granting the request, Judge Agnes found that Mr. Moquin was deprived of his right to effective assistance of counsel at the time of his trial. Mr. Moquin was represented at trial by John J. Roemer, a lawyer in the Worcester office of the state Committee for Public Counsel Services, which represents indigent clients.

Voice Note: Another prime example of DA Conte's ability to convict the poor, and his failure to admit he was wrong, spending tax payers money on small matters. While still allowing influential association with his favored friends the Worcester Dioceses to dissuade prosecution.

February 22, 2004

Prosecutors in John Conte's office allow registered level 3 sex offender to remain free.

According to the clergy abuse report of February 2004. Prosecutors had to review each claim with great care. Yet we now know a level 3 registered sex offender, Fr Robert Kelley was allowed to roam the street without notice. A direct contradiction to district attorney Conte's presentation of removing all suspects from positions that pose a risk to children.

The fact that Fr Kelley had been classified as a level 3 sex offender on September 28, 2001 was never publicly made known to Leominster District Court Judge Vito A. Virzi in the original arraignment on May 16, 2002 or subsequent emergency bail review initiated within hours in Worcester superior court. John P. Haran, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case, at first left the amount of bail to discretion of Judge Fecteau. Asked by Judge Fecteau to state a preference, Mr. Haran said Fr. Kelley should be released on personal recognizance. ADA Haran, who represents the district attorney never made reference to the registered class three sex offender status.

Additionally Alewife train terminal is a extremely busy place. Was notice of a level three sex offender posted either in the station or at police headquarters? Were MBTA police informed? Or were the thousands of children, both accompanied and unaccompanied by adults who pass through the station each day placed at risk at the hands of level 3 sex offender who has bragged how easy it is for him to offend. Is this standard practice for level 3's?

What type of protection for children is this? What else don't we know? All accused clergy names should be public and the files should open for the protection of our children.

January 12, 2004

DA CONTE FAILS TO INVESTIGATE HIS FRIEND, BISHOP REILLY.

Amazingly, after almost one year, and four days after the new web site design listing this page went up, DA Conte sends official letter dated January 9, 2004, stating "insufficient evidence for any further investigation" into Bishop Daniel Reilly, in the reassigning of Rev Peter Inzerillo at St Leo in late Dec 2000. This acknowledgement clearly represents DA Conte's Office has been protecting Bishop Reilly.

The Voice has confirmation from the Massachusetts State police that no material was ever forwarded, or investigation conducted into Bishop Daniel Reilly.
Now documentation will show clear and concise evidence to illustrate legal protection was awarded to the Worcester Catholic Church and Bishop Daniel Reilly during this so-called "clergy Investigation" for the past (22) twenty-two months, by Worcester District Attorney John Conte.

Worcester Dioceses Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger, Msgr Thomas Sullivan and Msg Edmond Tinsley have never been brought to testify under oath in a court of law in connection with the clergy abuse scandal in the Worcester diocese during this so called twenty-two (22) month investigation conducted by ADA Hodgens of the Worcester District Attorney's Office.

January 5, 2004

Worcester County ADA CHRISTOPHER P. HODGENS CONTINUES TO PROTECT BISHOP DANIEL REILLY from prosecution for child ENDANGERMENT, and the WORCESTER DIOCESES IN THE REASSIGNING OF REV PETER INZERILLO in late Dec 2001.

After the deal was made between DA Conte and Bishop Daniel Reilly: On March 28, 2003, ADA Hodgens was presented with over fifty pages of factual information outlining events to investigate in the reassigning of Rev Peter Inzerillo and the cover-up and fabrication projected to St Leo Parish, by Bishop Daniel Reilly.

Rev Inzerillo was only removal after legal representation was hired by parish parents, and public pressure built on March 27, 2002. ADA Hodgens as of December 16, 2003 has failed to forward the incriminating material to the Auburn C- Pack unit of the state police for investigation of Bishop Reilly.

WE ALSO NOW KNOW:

Rev. Peter Inzerillo was involved with another legal proceeding in a Worcester Court case. A case the District Attorney and dioceses have let remain hidden. Rev. Inzerillo was reassigned with no indifference to this matter.

Two additional accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior had come forward before the reassigning of Rev. Inzerillo in December 2000, totaling a number of three (3) separate accusations.

Another (4th) inappropriate sexual behavior accusation has been brought to the attention of the Worcester diocese since Rev Inzerillo's removal, which asserts the male child was 15 years old at the time of incident with Rev. Inzerillo.

No other Catholic Bishop in all of the United States has a reassigning in December 2000 and directly after paying a settlement of $300,000 dollars for inappropriate sexual behavior. This action vividly demonstrates criminal child endangerment. Additionally we have Bishop Daniel P, Reillys still lying in writing on February 15, 2002 about Rev. Inzerillo's past.

Worcester Dioceses Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger, Msgr Thomas Sullivan and Msg Edmond Tinsley have never been brought to testify under oath in a court of law in connection with the clergy abuse scandal in the Worcester diocese during this so called twenty-two (22) month investigation conducted by ADA Hodgens of the Worcester District Attorney's Office.

December 9, 2003

Police testimony decision to stand - Judge ruled officer lied under oath

Gary V. Murray, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)

WORCESTER -- A Superior Court judge said he lacks authority to reconsider his finding that a veteran vice squad officer lied under oath in an effort to justify police actions during a drug raid.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Hodgens filed a motion last month in Worcester Superior Court asking Judge Ralph D. Gants to reconsider his Aug. 29 finding that Worcester Police Sgt. Timothy J. O'Connor falsely testified in an evidence suppression hearing. Mr. Hodgens described the finding as ``clearly erroneous'' and subject to reversal on appeal. He asked the judge to reopen the suppression hearing to enable prosecutors to present additional evidence.
Mr. Hodgens, the head of District Attorney John J. Conte's appeals unit, also filed a notice of appeal of Judge Gants' suppression of evidence in the case with the state Appeals Court.

On Nov. 21, Judge Gants denied the prosecution's motion for reconsideration on procedural grounds.
``The simultaneous filing of these two motions effectively prevents this Court from ruling on the motion for reconsideration in the absence of a stay from the Appeals Court specifically authorizing such reconsideration,'' Judge Gants wrote. Judge Gants cited case law that he said supported his contention that he lacked jurisdiction to reconsider his earlier finding in light of the prosecution's notice of appeal.

WHO IS CHRISTOPHER P. HODGENS

Attorney Christopher P Hodgens, born 1967, is 38 years old, married and lives with his wife and family in the Blackstone Valley area of Worcester County. ADA Hodgens claims to be a seven year veteran of the Worcester District Attorneys office. He represents himself as working primarily in the appeals division. ADA Hodgens presently retains the title of head of Worcester district Attorney's Appeals division.

Chris.Hodgens@state.ma.us

Telephone: 508-757-2786  
Fax: 508-757-8510

According to ADA Hodgens, he was asked by District Attorney John J. Conte to review the clergy abuse files produced by the diocese of Worcester under Grand jury subpoena issued in March 2002.

ADA Hodgens has now on numerous occasions been caught stalling and providing misleading information to clergy abuse victims that have contacted him. Most notably are some of the following statements:

 "You should be thankful that the District Attorney is willing to look at this case" (June 2003)

"There is just not enough state police investigators to invested clergy abuse right now" (May 2003)

"You will see movement on this case in a couple of months" (March 2003)

According to Raymond Delisle of the Diocese of Worcester, the dioceses provided ten or eleven clergy files to the Worcester District Attorney in compliance with the issuing of the grand jury subpoena, During a meeting of February 24, 2003 with DA Conte and ADA Hodgens, a list of thirty three (33) clergy names were presented to the Worcester District Attorney John Conte. Mr. Conte requested the list and it was provided to him for the purpose of investigation.

As of December 16, 2003, ADA Hodgens has failed to forwarded this list to the Auburn C- Pack unit of the State police, the agency in charge of investigating criminal actions by the priest in the Worcester Dioceses.

Some known work which has gained ADA Christopher Hodgens his standing in the Worcester DA's office.
Subterfuge' used in bust, says judge Evidence is suppressed

A Superior Court judge has rejected convicted drug dealer Matteo Trotto's motion for a new trial.

December 9, 2003 caught lying, ADA Hodgens files appeal for Worcester Police officer who was found responsible of lying under oath in Worcester Superior court by three different judges. DA Conte has yet to press criminal perjury charges.

COMMONWEALTH v. Julie Ann Barnes and Thomas S. Levesque, Worcester Fire suspects

FALLOUT FROM FIRE PERSISTS \ DECISION TO PROSECUTE `A TOUGH QUESTION'
COMMONWEALTH v. WAYNE R. COONAN
COMMONWEALTH v.  ANDREA BROWN
COMMONWEALTH v. RONALD P. PETERS

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