BOSTON — Citing an ever-growing backlog of cases and the need to comply with a court-ordered deadline, Massachusetts trial courts have asked the Supreme Judicial Court to modify its July 3 order so they can assign more judges to preside over upcoming hearings for indigent defendants who have gone 45 days without legal representation.
Crime and Public Safety
Fitchburg man arrested for distributing child sexual abuse material
BOSTON — A Fitchburg man has been arrested and charged for allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via Kik Messenger. Sean Pettigrew, 50, was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography. Pettigrew was arrested today and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for July 18, 2025 in federal court in Worcester. […]
Worcester man gets 6 years for unlawful firearms possession
BOSTON — A Worcester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered silencer, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. Ryan Davidson, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman […]
Judge begins releasing defendants amid legal representation crisis
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.
‘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 […]
