December 3, 2006

In Worcester Superior Court case number WOCV2006-01952, Joseph Druce has filed a civil action against six individuals alleging in part that he was mislead by legal counsel as to the outcome his trial, Commonwealth V. Druce #03-01403 in which Joseph Druce was convicted for the murder of Rev John Geoghan. 

Defendants in the suit are the Worcester Dioceses, John Conte, Department of Corrections, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Deacon David Isabelle, and Attorney John H. Lachance. 

Joseph Durce claims consist of alleged accusations that Worcester County District Attorney John Conte hid the executive summary of report # DOC-HQ-03-59 stamping it confidential. That he did not release it to the defense in Commonwealth v Druce until after Judge Timothy Hillman denied a motion to dismiss.  

On October 6^th 2005 John Conte provided the defense with eight audiotapes of September 2005 interviews and the tape #6 is of Deacon David Isabelle statement dated September 7, 2005 by John Conte’s Trooper Ferraro and Donna Driscol of the D.O.C. The interviewers tried to pressure Deacon Isabelle to admit that it was his feet in the video tape that the Boston Herald illegally released.

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December 6, 2006

Fugitive rapist is sentenced
Dudley man on run after fleeing in 1989

WORCESTER— A Dudley man who jumped bail in 1989 and eluded law enforcement authorities until last year was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison yesterday for a series of armed sexual assaults in Worcester and Millbury and other crimes in Spencer and Leicester.

Donald J. Comerford, 40, was sentenced after pleading guilty in Worcester Superior Court to five counts each of aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife) and assault and battery, four counts each of indecent assault and battery and attempted kidnapping, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (knife) and a single count of indecent behavior..........

Between 1989 and last year, Mr. Comerford, a self-employed painter and son of a retired state trooper, married and fathered four children, his lawyer said yesterday. Mr. Landry said Mr. Comerford gave false names to Texas police, but that his true identity became known after he was fingerprinted.

December 6, 2006

Conte mum on fate of war chest
Almost $254,000 left in campaign coffers

WORCESTER— Forget the pictures and other personal belongings he will pack up. District Attorney John J. Conte has some financial decisions to make before leaving office next month.

Retiring after 30 years as district attorney, he has $253,841.85 in his campaign coffers, according to campaign finance reports filed on Dec. 1. Mr. Conte has spent about $25,000 since announcing in January that he would retire, and close to half that amount was for a “thank you” party in his honor.

December 20. 2006

Man willingly left Leominster police in 2004


WORCESTER— A former Leominster police officer, who left his job in 2004, was arraigned yesterday on charges he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl in Leominster.

William R. Coulter, 51, of 18 Manchester St., Leominster, was arrested by state police Monday, after troopers investigated reports that a girl was assaulted by the former officer.

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey T. Travers said the assaults were alleged to have occurred during the past year. Court records report that the assaults were in Leominster.

The 11-year-old told state police that on several occasions, Mr. Coulter made her touch his genitals and perform sex acts on him, according to reports on file in Central District Court.

December 22, 2006

BOSTON -- The grand jury investigating the disappearance and death of Molly Bish has been dismissed without issuing indictments, her father says. 

"We all hoped for an indictment, but we are grateful for the work that the grand jury has done," John Bish told The Boston Globe on Thursday. "It has served to preserve testimony that has been collected by state police, the leads and the evidence that they have had."

The investigation into her disappearance is far from over, however.  

"We are going to use this as a spring board. We are not going to stop. We are going to work hard to find out what happened to Molly," Bish said.

Molly Bish was 16 when she disappeared from her lifeguard post at Comins Pond in Warren in June 2000. Her remains were found in a wooded area of neighboring Palmer three years later after a hunter reported spotting a bathing suit like the one she was last seen wearing.  

The special grand jury was convened in 2004 to re-examine the case. Worcester District Attorney John Conte said at the time it would review evidence and interview potential suspects.

"We are still hopeful, and we still need everyone's help," John Bish said. "We are struggling to live without resolution. It is difficult for our family."  

Molly's absence is particularly tough around the holidays. "It's been a very long time for us," said her mother, Magi Bish, told WFXT-TV. "Six years, six Christmases now that Molly has not been with her family."  

Conte dismissed the grand jury saying the panel had accomplished everything it could.

December 28, 2006

Judge acquits porn suspect

WORCESTER— An Oxford man charged with possessing child pornography has been acquitted after a jury-waived trial.

Kelly Hoose, 34, formerly of Sturbridge, was found not guilty on four counts of possessing child pornography Dec. 19 in Worcester Superior Court. The not-guilty findings by Judge John S. McCann followed a two-day jury-waived trial, which included testimony from an adult model depicted in some of the computer images possessed by Mr. Hoose that prosecutors alleged were of children, according to court records.