August 18, 2007

Guilty plea in murder-for-hire plot

WORCESTER— Caroline M. Kotoski had very specific instructions for the man she believed to be a killer-for-hire.

The murder of her estranged husband, William Kotoski Jr., was to look like an accident or the result of a robbery, she told the undercover state police officer, who was posing as a hit man named “Harry,” during their Sept. 9, 2004, meeting in the parking lot of a supermarket on Gold Star Boulevard. She also made it quite clear that her two children were not to be present when the killing occurred.

“How come you don’t want this to look like a suicide?” asked the man Ms. Kotoski would soon learn was actually Peter LeDuc, a state trooper assigned to the office of then Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte.

“No life insurance,” said Ms. Kotoski, a one-time “teacher of the year” at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, who also taught at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester and worked as a teacher’s aide at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden.

A transcript of the recorded conversation between the 43-year-old woman and Trooper LeDuc was offered as an exhibit yesterday as Ms. Kotoski, formerly of Princeton, pleaded guilty in Worcester Superior Court to a charge of solicitation to commit murder. While Judge Francis R. Fecteau postponed sentencing until Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Joseph J. Reilly III and Ms. Kotoski’s lawyer, James J. Gribouski, are both recommending that Ms. Kotoski be sentenced to 2-1/2 years in the House of Correction, with 18 months to be served.

The balance of the sentence would be suspended for 10 years with probation under the plea agreement, and an attempted murder charge, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in state prison, would be dismissed.

Ms. Kotoski’s guilty plea came on the day of her scheduled trial. Her lawyers, Mr. Gribouski and Joseph S. Oteri, had filed a notice of their intent to raise an insanity defense on behalf of Ms. Kotoski, who speaks fluent French and Spanish. She attended the University of Maine and Sorbonne University in Paris, before earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Under questioning by Judge Fecteau, Ms. Kotoski, now living in Harwich Port, said she had been diagnosed as suffering from depression with psychotic features and had undergone three psychiatric hospitalizations since her 2004 arrest. Ronald S. Ebert, a psychologist hired by the defense, would have testified at trial that Ms. Kotoski lacked criminal responsibility for her actions when she tried to have her husband killed.

Alison Fife, a psychiatrist who evaluated Ms. Kotoski at Mr. Reilly’s request, would have offered a conflicting opinion, but both mental health experts agreed Ms. Kotoski was suffering from a major mental illness when the murder-for-hire plot was hatched, the prosecutor said yesterday.

The Kotoskis, whose marriage ended in January after what was described as a “contentious” divorce, were married in 1992. Ms. Kotoski filed for divorce in 2000 and after a brief reconciliation, the couple separated for good the following year, according to Mr. Reilly. The prosecutor said Mr. Kotoski, who owned a furniture store, had “many financial assets,” including two life insurance policies totaling $1.25 million and more than $200,000 in a retirement plan. In the event of his death, Ms. Kotoski would also have inherited the marital home at 38 Oak Circle in Princeton, a second home in Harwich Port and her husband’s store, according to Mr. Reilly.

Ms. Kotoski paid Trooper LeDuc $7,500 at the time of their meeting and agreed to pay him another $7,500 once her husband was killed, the prosecutor said. She also provided the trooper with a photograph of her husband and information concerning his work schedule, his two vehicles and the times when their two children would be with him, Mr. Reilly said.

The prosecutor said Ms. Kotoski’s allegation that her husband had engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior was determined by the state Department of Social Services to be “unfounded.” He said Ms. Kotoski had not made similar allegations to police as of the time of her arrest.

“Well, once this is done, there’s no turning back,” Trooper LeDuc said to Ms. Kotoski during their recorded conversation.

“I know that, but I have no options left,” she responded.

Later in the conversation, Ms. Kotoski asked, “When you’ve done this for other people, do they end up going to jail?”

“Not once,” said the trooper.

“OK,” Ms. Kotoski said.

“Because if they went to jail, I would be in jail,” the trooper added.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Ms. Kotoski said.

A short time later, after Ms. Kotoski said she had no further questions, the man she had come to know as Harry announced, “Ma’am, I’m a state trooper. Would you step out of the car, please.”

Judge Fecteau postponed sentencing yesterday at the request of Mr. Gribouski, who initially asked for an extension to Aug. 30 because of a pending Worcester Probate and Family Court ruling that he said could grant his client supervised visitation with the two children she has not seen since her arrest.

Mr. Reilly told the judge several factors were considered by the prosecution in its negotiations toward a plea agreement, including: the difficulties associated with gaining an attempted murder conviction; the possibility that such a conviction might be overturned on appeal; and the government’s burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Ms. Kotoski was legally sane at the time of the crime.

Ms. Kotoski was released yesterday on previously posted bail of $2,500 cash and will remain under house arrest until she is sentenced. As conditions of probation outlined by the lawyers, she would be required to have no contact with her ex-husband, to abide by all Probate Court orders, to continue with her mental health treatment and to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and any related treatment recommended by the Probation Department.

August 30, 2006 

Wife accused of murder plot faces Nov. trial
Lawyer plans insanity defense

Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gmurray@telegram.com

WORCESTER— A Nov. 14 trial date has been set for a Cape Cod woman accused of soliciting an undercover police officer to murder her estranged husband.

Caroline M. Kotoski, 42, formerly of Princeton, is under indictment on charges of attempted murder and common-law solicitation in connection with what prosecutors said was a Sept. 9, 2004, meeting she had with an undercover state trooper posing as a hit man. Ms. Kotoski, a one-time “teacher of the year,” allegedly paid the trooper $7,500 to kill William Kotoski and agreed to hand over another $7,500 once her estranged husband was dead.

Prosecutors said Ms. Kotoski’s conversation with Trooper Peter LeDuc, days before she was scheduled to be deposed in the couple’s pending divorce case, was captured on videotape and audiotape.

Ms. Kotoski’s lawyer, James J. Gribouski, has notified Assistant District Attorney Kathleen M. DelloStritto that he plans to use an insanity defense on his client’s behalf.

Judge Francis R. Fecteau set the Nov. 14 trial date yesterday in Worcester Superior Court. Ms. Kotoski remains free on $2,500 cash bail and is under house arrest with an electronic monitoring device.

Ms. DelloStritto has contended during prior court hearings that the alleged murder plot was motivated by Ms. Kotoski’s desire to gain custody of her two children and possibly inherit a “huge amount of money.”

Ms. Kotoski formerly taught at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester and Notre Dame Academy in Fitchburg, where she was named teacher of the year in 1997. She also worked as a teacher’s aide at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden.

Ms. Kotoski is facing up to 20 years in state prison if convicted on the attempted murder charge. Common-law solicitation is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 2-1/2 years in the House of Correction.

Mr. Gribouski has stated in court filings that he intends to raise a defense of lack of criminal responsibility based on a “mental disease or defect” Ms. Kotoski was suffering from “at the time of the alleged crime.”

In support of his position that Ms. Kotoski should be found not guilty by reason of mental illness, Mr. Gribouski said he planned to offer the expert testimony of Dr. Ronald Ebert, a psychiatrist from Braintree who was hired by the defense. Ms. Kotoski is also expected to undergo an evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist of the prosecution’s choosing prior to trial.  

March 30, 2006 

Insanity defense in alleged slay plot

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

WORCESTER - The lawyer for a Cape Cod woman accused of soliciting an undercover police officer to kill her estranged husband plans to raise an insanity defense on his client's behalf.

Caroline M. Kotoski, 40, has been indicted on charges of attempted murder and common-law solicitation in connection with what prosecutors said was a Sept. 9, 2004, meeting she had with an undercover state trooper posing as a hit man. Ms. Kotoski, formerly of Princeton, allegedly paid the trooper $7,500 to murder William Kotoski and agreed to pay an additional $7,500 once her estranged husband was dead. Prosecutors said Ms. Kotoski's conversation with Trooper Peter LeDuc, days before she was scheduled to give a deposition in the couple's hotly contested divorce case, was recorded.  

Ms. Kotoski's lawyer, James J. Gribouski, filed a written notice yesterday in Worcester Superior Court stating his intent to rely upon a defense of lack of criminal responsibility "because of mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged crime." To support his position that Ms. Kotoski should be found not guilty by reason of mental illness, Mr. Gribouski said he planned to offer the expert testimony of Dr. Ronald Ebert, a psychiatrist from Braintree who was hired by the defense.

The defense lawyer said in the notice that Dr. Ebert would "rely in whole or in part on statements of the defendant as to her mental condition at the time of the alleged crime." Ms. Kotoski's case has been continued to May 2. A trial date has not been set.  

October 7, 2005 

Judge lets attempted murder charge stand

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

WORCESTER - A judge has let an attempted murder charge stand against a Cape Cod woman who allegedly solicited an undercover police officer to kill her estranged husband.

Caroline M. Kotoski claimed in a motion to dismiss the charge, one of two against her, that the evidence presented to the grand jury that returned the indictment was insufficient, as a matter of law, to support the charge.

Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Fishman disagreed and denied the motion in a one-paragraph ruling issued Monday.

Ms. Kotoski, a 40-year-old former "teacher of the year," is awaiting trial in Worcester Superior Court on charges of attempted murder and common-law solicitation. The attempted murder charge is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. The other charge is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 2-1/2 years in the House of Correction.

Ms. Kotoski, formerly of Princeton, allegedly met Sept. 9, 2004, with an undercover state trooper posing as a hit man named Harry and paid him $7,500 to murder William Kotoski. Prosecutors allege that Ms. Kotoski agreed to pay the trooper an additional $7,500 once her estranged husband was dead. They say Ms. Kotoski's conversation with Trooper Peter LeDuc, which allegedly occurred days before she was to give a deposition in a bitter divorce case, was recorded.

The meeting with Trooper LeDuc was arranged after Ms. Kotoski allegedly approached John Belrose, a private investigator she had hired in connection with her divorce, wanting to have her husband killed. Mr. Belrose then notified police, according to court records.

Ms. Kotoski's lawyers, James J. Gribouski and Joseph S. Oteri, argued that in order to gain a conviction for attempted murder, prosecutors must show that a suspect committed an "overt act" that came close to bringing about the completion of the crime. They said there was no evidence of such an overt act on Ms. Kotoski's part and that her alleged behavior, if it indeed occurred, amounted to nothing more than "preliminary planning."

Assistant District Attorney Michelle R. King countered that Ms. Kotoski not only paid Trooper LeDuc to kill her husband, but told the trooper where he could be found, provided him with Mr. Kotoski's photograph and descriptions of his vehicles, asked that the killing take place during the day so she would have an alibi and instructed the officer that he was to make the slaying look like a robbery, rather than a suicide, so she could collect the insurance money.

In urging that the charge be allowed to stand, the prosecutor said there was nothing more Ms. Kotoski could have done, short of committing the killing herself, to bring about her estranged husband's death.

While Judge Fishman found that the evidence presented to the grand jury was sufficient to support the attempted murder indictment, he said there was a "serious question" whether the charge would survive a motion for a required finding of not guilty at the time of trial. Defense lawyers often file motions for required findings of not guilty at the close of the prosecution's case when they believe the evidence presented in support of a particular charge is insufficient, as a matter of law, to warrant a conviction.

The standard for the return of an indictment is less exacting. When a challenge is made to the sufficiency of evidence on an indictment, the court's review is limited to whether the government presented evidence as to the identity of the accused and whether there was probable cause to arrest the person.

Under case law, a judge considering whether probable cause to arrest existed must decide if, "at the moment of arrest, the facts and circumstances within the knowledge of police are enough to warrant a prudent person in believing that the individual arrested has committed or was committing an offense," according to Ms. King's written opposition to the motion to dismiss.  

August 30, 2005 

Woman wants charge dropped in hitman case -
‘Overt act' factor argued

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

WORCESTER - A Cape Cod woman accused of soliciting an undercover police officer to murder her estranged husband asked a judge yesterday to dismiss an attempted murder charge against her.

Caroline M. Kotoski, formerly of Princeton, was indicted on attempted murder and common-law solicitation charges after she allegedly met Sept. 9 with an undercover officer posing as a hit man and paid him $7,500 to kill William Kotoski. During the meeting, which occurred four days before Ms. Kotoski was to be deposed in bitter divorce proceedings, she allegedly agreed to pay the officer an additional $7,500 once Mr. Kotoski was dead.

A hearing was held yesterday in Worcester Superior Court on a motion filed by Ms. Kotoski's lawyers, James J. Gribouski and William S. Oteri, seeking dismissal of the attempted murder charge. Attempted murder is punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. Common-law solicitation, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of 2-1/2 years in jail.

Mr. Gribouski argued at the hearing that the evidence presented to the grand jurors who returned the attempted murder indictment against his client was insufficient, as a matter of law, to support the charge. Citing case law to support his position, Mr. Gribouski told Judge Kenneth J. Fishman that in order to gain a conviction for attempted murder, prosecutors must prove that the accused committed an overt act that "comes pretty near to the accomplishment of the crime."

He said there was no evidence of such an overt act in Ms. Kotoski's case and that her alleged behavior, if believed, amounted to "nothing more than preliminary planning."

The defense lawyer accused prosecutors of "stretching to increase the penalty that my client would face" by seeking the attempted murder indictment.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle R. King argued that the 40-year-old Ms. Kotoski, a former "teacher of the year," not only paid Trooper Peter Leduc to kill her estranged husband, but told the trooper where he could be found, provided him with Mr. Kotoski's photograph and a description of his vehicles, asked that the killing occur in the daytime so she would have an alibi and instructed the officer to make the slaying look like a robbery, rather than suicide, so she could collect the insurance money.

"There was no other overt act for her to partake in," the prosecutor said.

Judge Fishman took the motion to dismiss under advisement and continued Ms. Kotoski's case to Sept. 21.  

July 14, 2005 

Bid to dismiss attempted murder charge -
Estranged husband allegedly targeted

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

WORCESTER - A Cape Cod woman accused of trying to have her estranged husband killed is asking that an attempted murder charge against her be dismissed.

A hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Worcester Superior Court on a motion filed by lawyers for Caroline M. Kotoski seeking dismissal of an indictment charging the former "teacher of the year" with the attempted murder of William Kotoski. Ms. Kotoski, 40, formerly of Princeton, is also charged with common-law solicitation, a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 2-1/2 years in the House of Correction. Attempted murder is punishable by up to 20 years in state prison.

Ms. Kotoski's lawyers, James J. Gribouski and Joseph S. Oteri, maintain in their motion to dismiss that the evidence presented to the grand jury that indicted their client in April was insufficient, as a matter of law, to sustain the attempted murder charge. Prosecutors have not yet filed their written opposition to the motion with the court.

On Sept. 9, four days before she was scheduled to be deposed in bitter divorce proceedings, Ms. Kotoski allegedly paid $7,500 to an undercover state police officer posing as a hit man to have Mr. Kotoski killed. Another $7,500 was to be paid to the officer once her estranged husband was dead, according to prosecutors, who allege that Ms. Kotoski was motivated by a desire to gain custody of her two children and access to her husband's assets.

Investigators say the suspect also provided the undercover officer, Trooper Peter Leduc, with a photograph of Mr. Kotoski during the Sept. 9 meeting in a supermarket parking lot. The conversation between Ms. Kotoski and the officer was tape-recorded, according to police and prosecutors.

In a legal brief accompanying the motion to dismiss, Ms. Kotoski's lawyers said the evidence put before the grand jury, if believed, failed to establish that their client committed a "crucial overt act" that came close to accomplishing the crime of murder.  

April 9, 2005 

Former teacher of the year indicted in plot -
Estranged spouse alleged target

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

WORCESTER - A woman accused of trying to have her estranged husband murdered is now facing up to 20 years in state prison if convicted.

A Worcester County grand jury returned indictments Thursday charging Caroline M. Kotoski, formerly of Princeton, with the attempted murder of William Kotoski and with common-law solicitation to commit a felony.

On Sept. 9, four days before she was scheduled to be deposed in divorce proceedings, Ms. Kotoski allegedly paid $7,500 to an undercover police officer posing as a hit man to have Mr. Kotoski killed. Another $7,500 was to be paid once Mr. Kotoski was slain, according to prosecutors, who say Ms. Kotoski was motivated by a desire to gain custody of her two children and access to her husband's assets.

A 40-year-old former "teacher of the year" who now lives on Cape Cod, Ms. Kotoski was indicted in October on a single count of common law solicitation to commit a felony. Common-law solicitation is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 2-1/2 years in the House of Correction.

Yesterday, she was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on the new indictments: one count of attempting to commit murder and one count of solicitation. The attempted murder charge is punishable by up to 20 years in state prison.

As a result of the new indictments and Ms. Kotoski's recent arrest in Bourne on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol, Assistant District Attorney Kathleen M. DelloStritto asked Judge Timothy S. Hillman yesterday to increase Ms. Kotoski's bail from $2,500 cash to $50,000 cash.

The judge kept bail at $2,500 cash, but ordered Ms. Kotoski to abstain from alcohol and drugs as a condition of her release. He also said he was considering placing her on an electronic monitoring device. He ordered her to return to court Wednesday.

James J. Gribouski, one of Ms. Kotoski's lawyers, accused the office of District Attorney John J. Conte of "manipulation of the grand jury in an attempt to increase the penalty my client is facing." Mr. Gribouski said he believed the same evidence that was offered to the grand jury that indicted Ms. Kotoski in October was presented to a different grand jury that handed up Thursday's indictments. He described the dual presentations as "suspect" and said he expected to be filing appropriate motions as a result.

Ms. DelloStritto said it was her understanding that a videotape and audiotape of Ms. Kotoski's Sept. 9 meeting with state Trooper Peter Leduc were played for the grand jurors who returned Thursday's indictments.

In urging Judge Hillman to increase Ms. Kotoski's bail, Ms. DelloStritto said Trooper Leduc gave Ms. Kotoski more than one opportunity to back out of the plot to kill her estranged husband, but Ms. Kotoski "made it clear she wanted him killed." The prosecutor also said she learned recently that Ms. Kotoski sold two stock certificates in her and her husband's names on Aug. 4 for $50,000 and forged Mr. Kotoski's signature in order to complete the sale.

Ms. DelloStritto told the judge that Ms. Kotoski, who has been on pretrial probation as a condition of her release on bail, was arrested April 1 on a drunken-driving charge, which was continued without a finding in Falmouth District Court after an admission to sufficient facts. Ms. Dellostritto said Ms. Kotoski failed to tell her probation officer
about the arrest. She told the judge Ms. Kotoski was "not a good risk to appear" in court.

Mr. Gribouski argued that Ms. Kotoski had made every scheduled court appearance and said there was no basis for increasing her bail. In reference to the stock certificates, Mr. Gribsouki said his client was not charged with stock fraud or larceny. He said the matter could be dealt with in probate court. 

November 24, 2004 

`Custody, money' behind slay plot -
DA: Wife would get kids, inheritance  

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

WORCESTER - Caroline M. Kotoski wanted her estranged husband's murder to look like an accident, a prosecutor said yesterday.

Assistant District Attorney Kathleen M. DelloStritto said the 40-year-old Ms. Kotoski, a former "teacher of the year," insisted that the killing be accomplished by means other than shooting and planned to be out of the country when the deed was done.  

On Sept. 9, four days before she was scheduled to be deposed in what were described as "bitter divorce proceedings," Ms. Kotoski paid $7,500 to an undercover police officer posing as a hit man to have William Kotoski killed, according to Ms. DelloStritto. Another $7,500 was to be paid once Mr. Kotoski was dead, Ms. DelloStritto said.

With Mr. Kotoski out of the way, there would be no divorce or deposition and Ms. Kotoski would be awarded custody of her two children and stood to inherit a "huge amount of money," according to the assistant district attorney.

Yesterday, flanked by her two lawyers, Ms. Kotoski was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on a charge of common-law solicitation. The former Princeton woman, now living in rented quarters in Harwich Port, entered a not guilty plea.

Ms. DelloStritto asked Judge Timothy S. Hillman to set Ms. Kotoski's bail at $50,000 cash, saying the $2,500 she posted earlier was inadequate to ensure her appearance in court. Ms. DelloStritto said she understood Ms. Kotoski had inherited a large sum of money in the last year, possibly as much as $500,000. The prosecutor said she was concerned Ms. Kotoski might flee the jurisdiction.

James J. Gribouski, one of Ms. Kotoski's lawyers, said the money referred to by the prosecutor was tied up in litigation and inaccessible. Mr. Gribouski said Ms. Kotoski appeared in court yesterday in response to a summons and was in full compliance with the terms of her pretrial probation.

Mr. Gribouski also said Ms. Kotoski, named 1997 teacher of the year at Notre Dame Academy in Fitchburg, is charged only with a misdemeanor and has no prior criminal record.

Judge Hillman kept Ms. Kotoski's bail at the $2,500 that was previously posted, but ordered that she report to the Probation Department three times a week, instead of twice. The judge ordered that Ms. Kotoski, whose case was continued to Dec. 21, have no contact with her estranged husband.  

October 30, 2004 

Wife indicted in murder-plot case -
Police say she tried to hire hit man

Gary Murray, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)

WORCESTER -- A former teacher accused of soliciting an undercover state trooper to murder her estranged husband has been indicted by a Worcester County grand jury.

The grand jurors handed up an indictment Oct. 15 charging Caroline M. Kotoski, formerly of 38 Oak Circle, Princeton, with common-law solicitation. Ms. Kotoski is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 23 in Worcester Superior Court.

Police said the 40-year-old woman met Sept. 9 with an undercover state trooper posing as a hit man named Harry and paid the officer $7,500 to kill her husband, William Kotoski. The undercover trooper, Peter Leduc, was to have been paid another $7,500 once Mr. Kotoski was dead, investigators said.

The conversation during the meeting in the parking lot of Shaw's Supermarket on Gold Star Boulevard was electronically recorded, according to authorities.

Her arrest culminated an investigation that was launched Aug. 6 after an individual, who has not been publicly identified by investigators, told state police detectives Ms. Kotoski asked him if he knew anyone interested in committing a murder-for-hire.

According to James J. Gribouski, one of her lawyers, Ms. Kotoski was enrolled in a master's degree program in education at Assumption College at the time of her arrest. On the day she allegedly paid Trooper Leduc $7,500, she resigned from her position as a teacher's aide at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, school officials said.

Ms. Kotoski, a mother of two, formerly taught at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester and Notre Dame Academy in Fitchburg, where she was named teacher of the year in 1997, Mr. Gribouski said.

Ms. Kotoski pleaded not guilty at her Sept. 10 arraignment in Central District Court. She was later released from custody on $2,500 cash bail after a Superior Court bail-reduction hearing.  

September 11, 2004 

Wife accused in murder plot -
Princeton woman charged in sting by state trooper

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

WORCESTER - A woman who recently worked as a teacher's aide at Wachusett Regional High School was arraigned yesterday on a charge of soliciting an undercover state trooper to murder her estranged husband for $15,000.

Caroline Kotoski, 40, of 38 Oak Circle, Princeton, allegedly met with Trooper Peter Leduc Thursday in the parking lot of Shaw's Supermarket on Gold Star Boulevard and paid the trooper $7,500 to kill her husband, William Kotoski. Trooper Leduc, who was posing as a hit man named "Harry," was to be paid an additional $7,500 after Mr. Kotoski was killed, according to police.

The conversation between the suspect and the undercover state trooper was electronically recorded, according to authorities.

Ms. Kotoski, a mother of two who has worked as both a substitute teacher and a teacher's aide at the regional high school in Holden, was charged with solicitation to commit murder. A not guilty plea was entered on her behalf at her arraignment yesterday in Central District Court.

Judge Vito A. Virzi set bail of $25,000 cash and continued the case to Oct. 29. Ms. Kotoski then sought a bail review in Worcester Superior Court, where Judge John S. McCann reduced her bail to $2,500 cash. Ms. Kotoski was released from custody after posting the $2,500.

Her arrest culminated an investigation by state police detectives assigned to the office of District Attorney John J. Conte that began Aug. 6, when a man not identified by investigators told Trooper Robert J. Ferraro that Ms. Kotoski had asked him if he knew anyone who would kill her estranged husband, according to police accounts.

The meeting between Ms. Kotoski and Trooper Leduc was then arranged, police said. Holden Police Chief George R. Sherrill said the tip originally came to Holden police, who referred the matter to state police after learning that Ms. Kotoski lived in Princeton.

James J. Gribouski, one of Ms. Kotoski's lawyers, told Judge Virzi yesterday that his client, who grew up in the Somerset area, attended the University of Maine and Sorbonne University in Paris before earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mr. Gribouski said Ms. Kotoski, now enrolled in a master's in education program at Assumption College, was named teacher of the year in 1997 at Notre Dame Academy in Fitchburg, where she taught French.

Ms. Kotoski later taught at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester before leaving to raise her two children, now 3 and 6, Mr. Gribouski said. He said his client began teaching at Wachusett about a year ago, when she and her husband began divorce proceedings.

Although Mr. Gribouski described Ms. Kotoski as a special education teacher at Wachusett, Superintendent of Schools Alfred D. Tutela said she worked as a teacher's aide this year and as a substitute teacher last year. He said she resigned Thursday.

Mr. Gribouski said Ms. Kotoski has been an active member of Prince of Peace Church in Princeton, where she was a substitute religious education teacher. She also has taught French and Spanish on a volunteer basis at the Jewish Community Center in Worcester.

Assistant District Attorney Robert J. Pellegrini asked Judge Virzi to set $50,000 cash bail and order that Ms. Kotoski have no contact with her husband if she made bail.

"He's afraid for his children," Mr. Pellegrini said of Mr. Kotoski, who was in court but declined to speak to a reporter after the court proceedings.

Mr. Gribouski said Ms. Kotoski had custody of her two children until the time of her arrest, when custody was given to her husband under an emergency court order.

That custody order was continued in force yesterday in Worcester Probate Court, where Ms. Kotoski was ordered to have no contact with her husband and children, according to lawyer Loretta Collins-Tremblay, who is representing Ms. Kotoski in her divorce.

Ms. Kotoski has no prior criminal record, according to Mr. Gribouski, who asked that her bail be set at $2,500 cash. Ms. Kotoski also was represented yesterday by Boston lawyer Joseph S. Oteri.

"My client maintains her innocence," Mr. Gribouski said after the arraignment.

During the Superior Court bail hearing before Judge McCann, Mr. Gribouski described Assistant District Attorney William E. Loughlin's requested bail of $50,000 cash as "excessive." Mr. Gribouski noted that solicitation to commit murder is a misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of 2-1/2years in jail, and not a felony punishable by a state prison sentence.

"This may be a misdemeanor, your honor, but it is a very serious allegation," Mr. Loughlin told the judge.

Judge McCann ordered Ms. Kotoski to comply with all Probate Court orders as a condition of her release on bail. Ms. Collins-Tremblay said the Probate Court restraining order required Ms. Kotoski to vacate the Princeton home that she and her husband own, leaving her "homeless." Mr. Gribouski told the judge his client could stay with friends or relatives. 

September 11, 2004 

Princeton woman charged in murder-for-hire plot 

Boston Herald (MA): CASEY ROSS  

A 40-year-old Princeton woman is being charged with plotting to kill her estranged husband after she tried to hire an undercover cop to carry out the murder, prosecutors said.

Caroline M. Kotoski pleaded innocent in Worcester District Court yesterday to charges of solicitation to commit murder.

Prosecutors said Kotoski approached an individual three weeks ago to ask if he knew of anyone who would kill her husband, but the man went to police with the story instead.

Police then arranged a meeting in which Kotoski tried to hire an undercover officer to carry out the killing. She was arrested on the spot, prosecutors said.

Authorities have not identified Kotoski's estranged husband or commented on her motive for allegedly trying to have him killed.

Kotoski's bail was originally set at $25,000 cash but was reduced to $2,500 in a bail review hearing, the Worcester District Attorney's Office said. Prosecutors had requested $50,000 cash bail.

CØNTE2006.COM