Worcester Criminal Law Blog

Dealing with Massachusetts drug charges can be challenging enough for the average citizen; those who are in any sort of public position can find it an even more difficult process. This may be the case for the Director of Solid Waste in Northampton, Massachusetts. The 56-year-old woman has been accused of five instances of drug charges in addition to operating under the influence and a firearms violation. Authorities have also leveled several other criminal charges against the woman.

The arrest reportedly occurred as a result of a car accident that took place on Hatfield Street in Northampton. When authorities responded to the scene, they performed a search of the solid waste director's vehicle. This apparently resulted in the discovery of prescription drugs in her car for which she had no valid prescription. They also purportedly uncovered a container of pepper spray without a corresponding firearms identification card that would allow it to be carried.

Most Massachusetts assault and battery cases seem fairly straightforward and timely. Recently, however, an arrest was made in a molestation and assault and battery case that took place at a Massachusetts summer camp 30 years earlier. A man who formerly worked as a counselor at Camp Good News has now been arrested and charged with raping a child, along with indecent assault and battery and a slew of other allegations.

This investigation came about after several victims made claims that they had been sexually assaulted while at the summer camp decades ago. The victims were all between the ages of 11 and 15 when the alleged assaults occurred. Prosecutors revealed that their efforts to track down the alleged perpetrator took more than two years and spanned at least eight states. Along the way, authorities considered at least nine potential suspects before filing charges against the current accused individual.

Many people who find themselves facing theft charges are accused of stealing some kind of tangible product like a car or clothing, or even cash or electronic funds from a bank account. One recent Massachusetts theft crimes case actually involves allegations that the owner of a chain of automated Laundromats stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of natural gas from his utility company. Allegations such as these could result in stiff penalties if a conviction should be handed down.

The utility company, Columbia Gas, lodged an official complaint with the attorney general's offices detailing its suspicions that gas had been stolen. Their suspicions apparently came about after noticing a pattern of low and inconsistent gas use related to the Laundromats. The six laundry facilities owned by the 56-year-old accused individual are located throughout various Massachusetts communities, including Worcester.

Massachusetts police recently announced that they had arrested seven individuals in connection with an alleged drug trafficking ring. They leveled various drug charges against the individuals, in addition to several weapons offense violations. In cases like this, accused individuals must often decide whether to fight the charges made against them, or to attempt to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors that could potential result in a more favorable outcome for them.

According to authorities, this specific operation apparently focused on transporting hundreds of pounds of marijuana across the nation. That estimated amount of marijuana was allegedly trafficked over the past year alone. A Massachusetts District Attorney in Middlesex was the one to announce the multiple arrests associated with the police investigation into the alleged ring. Prosecutors arraigned the individuals in Malden District Court later that same day.