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Witness Intimidation

Police & Fire
Amherst Man Admits To Raping Child; Gets 6 To 7 Years In Prison: DA Amherst Man Admits To Raping Child; Gets 6 To 7 Years In Prison: DA
Kemal Banatte Admits To Raping Child He Knew From 2015-2019 A 44-year-old Hampshire County man admitted to repeatedly sexually assaulting a child, authorities said, and now he knows how long he'll spend in prison. Kemal Banatte, of Amherst, was sentenced to six to seven behind bars after he pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape of a child, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, and one count of witness intimidation, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  Banatte admitted to raping a child he knew multiple times from 2015 until 2019…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
MA Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced For Trying To Deport Woman He Exposed Himself To: Feds MA Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced For Trying To Deport Woman He Exposed Himself To: Feds
MA Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced For Trying To Deport Woman He Exposed Himself To: Feds A Boston man on federal supervised release for sex trafficking has been sentenced in a different case for exposing himself to a woman and then trying to stop her from testifying. Mark Pinnock, 32, was sentenced to 33 months followed by three years supervised release on Friday, Jan. 5, after pleading guilty to one county of witness intimidation in October 2023, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Pinnock served eight years in prison for sex trafficking in 2014. After his release in July 2022, the man worked as an Amazon delivery driver while under federal supervision, officials sa…

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by Khier Casino
Police & Fire
Man Busted After Pulling Loaded Gun On Officers In Springfield: Police Man Busted After Pulling Loaded Gun On Officers In Springfield: Police
Man Busted After Pulling Loaded Gun On Officers In Springfield: Police A 30-year-old Springfield man with a lengthy criminal history decided to add to that record when he pulled an illegal pistol on officers on Wednesday, Dec. 27, authorities said.  Joseph Morales-Dejesus, of Springfield, was arrested just before 1 a.m. at an apartment on Harriet Street, Springfield Police said.  Officers were investigating Morales-Dejesus for an alleged domestic assault involving a firearm and were given permission to go inside the apartment where he was staying. Shortly after police entered the home, Morales-Dejesus walked into the room where they were a…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Found Hiding In Woods Behind Bernardston Home Gets 5-7 Years In Prison: DA Man Found Hiding In Woods Behind Bernardston Home Gets 5-7 Years In Prison: DA
Man Found Hiding In Woods Behind Bernardston Home Gets 5-7 Years In Prison: DA A 53-year-old Franklin County man with a lengthy criminal history has agreed to serve a 5 to 7-year prison sentence after being found guilty of witness intimidation and violating a restraining order, authorities said.  Antonio Candello, of Bernardston, was arrested in September 2022, just days after getting out of prison, when he violated the conditions of a restraining order filed against him by a woman, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  The woman contacted Bernardston police on Sept 19, 2022, to say Candello was in the woods behind her home, reports said. C…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Involved In Central Mass Standoff Pleads Not Guilty, Held Without Bail Man Involved In Central Mass Standoff Pleads Not Guilty, Held Without Bail
Man Involved In Central Mass Standoff Pleads Not Guilty, Held Without Bail A man who held Worcester police at bay during a two-hour standoff last week pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday, July 17, authorities said. A judge ordered held without bail, authorities said.  Jonathan Lugo, 27, of Worcester, was accused of threatening people with a gun on Culver Street Friday afternoon, but when police arrived he refused to drop the weapon, Worcester police said. He instead fled along Dorchester Street and ran inside an apartment on Cutler Street and would not come out Police called in a mental health expert and a SWAT team to prepare for any outcome. Officer…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Convicted Child Predator Gets 5 Years After Guilty Verdict In Amherst: DA Convicted Child Predator Gets 5 Years After Guilty Verdict In Amherst: DA
Convicted Child Predator Gets 5 Years After Guilty Verdict In Amherst: DA Jorge Castillo, who was convicted last week of abusing a child under 12 years old, will spend at least five years behind bars, a judge ruled on Monday, Feb. 13.  Related: Jorge Castillo Guilty Of Indecent Assaults, Witness Intimidation: DA Castillo was sentenced to five to six years in prison and five years of probation once he's released, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. A jury convicted him on two counts of indecent assault on a child under 14 and one count of witness intimidation. The victim told the court that Castillo ruined their adolescence and asked for justic…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Cops Bust Accused Violent Rapist, Others During Springfield Apartment Raid: Police Cops Bust Accused Violent Rapist, Others During Springfield Apartment Raid: Police
Cops Bust Accused Violent Rapist, Others During Springfield Apartment Raid: Police A man wanted for several violent offenses, including aggravated rape with injury, armed burglary, and strangulation, was busted during a raid earlier this week, authorities said.  Wayman Jenkins, 45, of Springfield, was one of four people arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 6, after police executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 200 block of Union Street just before 7 a.m., Springfield police said.  Wayman was wanted on several violent charges that include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, armed burglary, aggravated rape causing serious bodily injury, viol…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
55-Year-Old Turners Falls Man Guilty Of Child Rape Gets Up To 14 Years In Prison: DA 55-Year-Old Turners Falls Man Guilty Of Child Rape Gets Up To 14 Years In Prison: DA
55-Year-Old Turners Falls Man Guilty Of Child Rape Gets Up To 14 Years In Prison: DA Jeffrey Fleury of Turners Falls, who was found guilty of raping a child for years, will spend at least 12 years in prison, authorities said.  A judge ruled this week that Fleury will serve between 12 to 14 years behind bars after the jury returned its guilty verdict last month, Franklin County court records show. Though, that was much less than what the prosecutor had requested. According to the Greenfield Recorder, the district attorney's office asked for a sentence of 18 to 24 years.  Testimony during the trial revealed Fleury allegedly abused the girl for two years wh…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Men Busted For Running Organized Crime Loan Sharking, Gambling Ring: Mass AG Men Busted For Running Organized Crime Loan Sharking, Gambling Ring: Mass AG
Men Busted For Running Organized Crime Loan Sharking, Gambling Ring: Mass AG State and federal agents wrapped up a multi-year investigation with the arrest of three men who they say used threats, intimidation, and extortion to run a multi-million dollar gambling ring with the help of an organized crime syndicate.  Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced the arrests last week and laid out the state's case against them. They are, and their charges include: Eric Rogers, 54, of Revere: Extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, witness intimidation, and gambling charges.  Michael McMahon, 44, of Boston: Extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion,…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Central Mass Man Held On $10K Bail For Allegedly Assaulting Teenage Girl Central Mass Man Held On $10K Bail For Allegedly Assaulting Teenage Girl
Central Mass Man Held On $10K Bail For Allegedly Assaulting Teenage Girl A Blackstone man was being held on $10,000 bail after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a teenage girl last week, authorities said.  Michael Verzosa, age 34, was arrested after police responded to call about the assault on Mendon Street in Blackstone around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, Police Chief Gregory Gilmore said. Verzosa is facing several charges including assault, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and witness intimidation, Gilmore said. He is set to be arraigned in Uxbridge District Court on Sept. 30. 

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by David Cifarelli
News
Massachusetts Man Allegedly Told Police To 'Watch Out' While Under Investigation Massachusetts Man Allegedly Told Police To 'Watch Out' While Under Investigation
Massachusetts Man Allegedly Told Police To 'Watch Out' While Under Investigation A Boston man is facing several charges for allegedly making threats against the Boston Police officers while he was under investigation for extortion, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said.  The investigation began when Christopher Drayton, age 31, allegedly refused to return equipment to a former business associate unless they paid him up to $500 in return, the office reports.  During a call with a Boston Police detective, who was trying to resolve the issue, Drayton made statements about the detective's address and claimed to know the layout of his house.&…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Ex-Cop In Massachusetts Found Guilty On Four Counts In Child Sex Abuse Case Ex-Cop In Massachusetts Found Guilty On Four Counts In Child Sex Abuse Case
Ex-Cop In Massachusetts Found Guilty On Four Counts In Child Sex Abuse Case A former police officer in Western Massachusetts has been found guilty on four of 26 charges levied against him in a child sexual abuse case. Former Springfield police officer Daniel Cintron was found guilty on two counts each of indecent assault and battery on a child and witness intimidation following a bench trial at Hampden Superior Court. Cintron, age 31, who was fired by the Springfield Police Department following accusations of raping three underage children, was also found not guilty or had multiple charges of rape, indecent assault, and battery on a child, witness tampering, and pr…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
City Man Accused Of Raping 2 Victims Was Out On Bail For Rape Charge At Time Of Arrest City Man Accused Of Raping 2 Victims Was Out On Bail For Rape Charge At Time Of Arrest
City Man Accused Of Raping 2 Victims Was Out On Bail For Rape Charge At Time Of Arrest A Springfield man who has been accused of rape and kidnapping on multiple occasions was recently arrested for allegedly raping two children. Christian Barbee, 35, of St. James Avenue in Springfield, was arrested at around 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the intersection of Buckingham Place and Buckingham Street in Springfield, police said. An investigation by the Springfield Police allegedly revealed that Barbee had sexually assaulted two underage victims in the fall of 2020, police said. Barbee was out on bail for the rape of a child with force and other similar charges filed in 2019…

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by Kristin Palpini