LOWELL — Defendants facing charges including armed robbery and drug trafficking were released from custody on Wednesday at the Kiernan Judicial Center, as trial courts in Middlesex and Suffolk counties began holding emergency Lavallee Protocol hearings at the Lowell-based courthouse in response to a statewide shortage of court-appointed attorneys.
Crime and Public Safety
‘Strong medicine’: SJC orders courts to begin potential release of indigent defendants as right-to-counsel crisis hits breaking point
BOSTON — Declaring a “systemic violation” of constitutional rights, Massachusetts’ highest court on Thursday ordered trial courts in Middlesex and Suffolk counties to begin hearings that could lead to the release of jailed defendants and dismissal of charges against individuals who remain unrepresented.
Fitchburg Fire battles 3-day stretch of fires during hot week
FITCHBURG — The high temperatures this week were made even worse by three different fires that blazed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to releases from Fitchburg Fire Chief Dante Suarez. On Monday, Fitchburg Fire received a call at 2:41 p.m. for a reported building fire on Pratt Road in Fitchburg. On arrival, crews found […]
Second man indicted for murder in 2021 killing of 19-year-old Worcester man
WORCESTER — A grand jury handed up a murder indictment against 23-year-old Jose Pacheco in the 2021 killing of a 19-year-old Worcester man who was found dead in Leominster, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr. Pacheco, of Worcester, was indicted on June 16, 2025, on one count of murder in the […]
CPCS petitions SJC to release jailed defendants amid attorney shortage
Amid a spiraling shortage of court-appointed defense attorneys, the state’s top court is being asked to release jailed indigent defendants left without lawyers — including more than a dozen in Middlesex County — as hundreds of people statewide remain unrepresented.
Man indicted for murder from 2008 stabbing of college student
WORCESTER — A grand jury returned a murder indictment against one man this week in the 2008 stabbing death of a teenager in the area of North Ashland Street in Worcester, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr. Marquis Brown, 40, of Worcester, was indicted on one count of murder in the […]
