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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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