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Online Harassment

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'Zoom Bombing' Disrupts Western Mass City Council Meeting; Leaders Look To Block Trolls: Report 'Zoom Bombing' Disrupts Western Mass City Council Meeting; Leaders Look To Block Trolls: Report
'Zoom Bombing' Disrupts Western Mass City Council Meeting; Leaders Look To Block Trolls: Report A standard city council meeting last week in Hampshire County was upended by "Zoom bombing" trolls and antisemites who spewed hateful and offensive comments. Northampton city councilors have spent the last week looking for solutions to fight back for their meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9, reports said.  The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that the Nov. 2 Northampton City Council meeting was set to discuss typical city governance issues, but things took a dark turn when leaders opened the floor for public comments.  Several people signed up to speak to the board via Zoom. Th…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
'Sexual Predator' Gets 12 Years For Blackmailing Massachusetts Teen Into Send Nudes: Feds 'Sexual Predator' Gets 12 Years For Blackmailing Massachusetts Teen Into Send Nudes: Feds
'Sexual Predator' Gets 12 Years For Blackmailing Massachusetts Teen Into Send Nudes: Feds A 33-year-old Chicago man who bullied a 16-year-old Massachusetts girl into sending him nude photos and then threatened to release them to her friends and family if she didn't give him more will spend more than a decade behind bars, federal authorities said.  Ernesto Herrera, who pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor in August, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on Friday, Fed. 24, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Herrera reached out to the victim from an anonymous phone number through a social media app in June 2020 and manipulate…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Ex-eBay Execs Who Sent Live Roaches, Fetal Pig To Natick Couple Sentenced To Prison: Feds Ex-eBay Execs Who Sent Live Roaches, Fetal Pig To Natick Couple Sentenced To Prison: Feds
Ex-eBay Execs Who Sent Live Roaches, Fetal Pig To Natick Couple Sentenced To Prison: Feds Two former eBay executives who pleaded guilty to sending live insects, a funeral wreath, and a bloody Halloween mask to intimidate a Natick couple are going to prison.  Federal prosecutors said James Baugh, age 47, of San Jose, CA, and David Harville, 50, of Las Vegas, "weaponized" the online auction giant's power and security services to silence the couple, but it didn't work.  Baugh, eBay's former senior director of safety and security, will serve 57 months in prison and pay a $40,000 fine, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Baugh pleaded guilty to …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment
New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment A log of alleged harassment by their teacher dubbed the “Pedo Database” that was created by eight middle school boys in New England is now part of an official investigation into the teacher, The Boston Globe reports.  The Rhode Island teacher, who works at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, has been placed on administrative leave amid a probe into numerous claims of inappropriate behavior, including that he made female students dance for him, the outlet reports. One of the former students, now a 15-year-old high school student, told The Boston Globe that he and several other male…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
13-Year-Old Refers To Texas Massacre In Threatening NY School Shooting, Police Say 13-Year-Old Refers To Texas Massacre In Threatening NY School Shooting, Police Say
13-Year-Old Refers To Texas Massacre In Threatening NY School Shooting, Police Say A middle school student  has been charged with making a terroristic threat after threatening to shoot up his school in New York while making a reference to the recent Uvalde, Texas massacre. The incident took place in Suffolk County at Westhampton Beach Middle School on Thursday, June 2. The 13-year-old boy told other students and school officials that he was going to "shoot the school" because he was annoyed and frustrated with other students, said Chief Steven McManus of the Westhampton Police. "The teenager made reference to the recent Uvalde, Texas shooting," McManus said. McManu…

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by Kathy Reakes