Latest news with #Auger
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Portsmouth track coach charged with attempting to pay for sex with minor
A former assistant track coach at Portsmouth High School is facing charges he attempted to pay cash for sex with a 14-year-old female who was an undercover federal agent last month at a Maine hotel. Joseph Auger, 27, of Portsmouth, was charged April 25 with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, alleging he "knowingly" attempted to "entice, obtain, patronize and solicit by any means a 14-year-old girl ... to engage in a commercial sex act." According to court documents, Auger allegedly gave $150 in cash to federal agents at a Best Western hotel in South Portland, Maine, according to a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Maine by HSI Special Agent Abby Mathieu. No minors were involved in the sting operation, the affidavit states. Portsmouth schools Superintendent Zach McLaughlin notified the high school community that Auger had been fired from coaching job on April 30, the same day a federal agent notified school officials of their investigation. Auger is a former athlete at Portsmouth High School, where he ran track. 'Effective immediately, Joseph Auger, an assistant coach from our track team, has been removed from his position due to a legal matter that has come to our attention,' McLaughlin's message said. 'While we understand that news like this can be concerning, I want to assure you that the current legal investigation is not directly connected to the coach's work with our students or athletic program. We are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students.' According to the affidavit, on or around April 24, law enforcement agents posted an advertisement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts, containing images of what appeared to be two young females who were 'Ready 2 have some fun,' among other sexually-charged phrases. The ad contained a contact phone number monitored by law enforcement agents, and an undercover agent 'used it to communicate with potential sex buyers, including Joseph Auger,' the affidavit says. Agents monitoring the line pretended to be the sister of a 14-year-old girl available to perform sex acts for money. The affidavit alleges Auger texted the number from one phone saying it would be "messed up" to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old, but then allegedly texted the number from a different phone and arranged to meet the girl. The affidavit claims Auger went to the Best Western Hotel in South Portland after he was given the address by agents pretending to be the sister of the 14-year-old. 'The defendant arrived at the hotel in a Toyota Tundra, NH registration MONKEE,' the affidavit says. 'The defendant parked his vehicle at the front of the hotel, walked around the backside of the hotel and approached (an undercover agent) who was standing in front of the hotel room. The defendant confirmed he was there for the minor female. He said he had the money and pulled money from his front pocket and gave it to (the undercover agent).' The affidavit says Auger was given a hotel key to the hotel room. Law enforcement then arrested him and took him into custody, later locating his phone in the vehicle. Auger was escorted to a conference room in the hotel, where he was read his Miranda Rights and signed a form agreeing to waive his rights and speak with law enforcement, the affidavit says. He allegedly told investigators he communicated with advertisements on the website prior to that day. 'The defendant initially stated he was going to save the 14-year-old, but later stated that he wanted to have sex with the 14-year-old girl and brought the $150 as payment for a quick visit,' the affidavit says. 'He stated this is the first time he has tried to have sex with a minor female.' An attempt to reach Auger's attorney, William Bly, for comment was unsuccessful. A recent court filing shows federal prosecutors requesting an extension to indict Auger, with responses due by May 22.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New faces, new look for Pinkerton boys lacrosse team this spring
DERRY — Marty Auger heard a similar refrain from his Pinkerton Academy lacrosse players as they returned to the sideline on Monday. They were good things, namely that the plays and mindsets Auger and his staff implemented during preseason worked as planned on game day. Auger, a former Astros attackman and an assistant coach under the legendary Brian O'Reilly from 2015-19, got his first win leading Pinkerton in the team's season opener, a 21-0 NHIAA Division I triumph over Salem. Advertisement Auger said he preaches making the extra pass, passing up good scoring chances for great ones, and playing fast. 'We're trying to instill that in these guys and it's like breaking (in) a wild horse,' Auger joked. 'It's tough, but when they do it, it looks awesome. 'A couple times (Monday) we had guys coming off the field smiling, saying, 'Coach, that was wide open.'' The Astros are coming off a 10-8 regular season and a semifinal appearance last spring under former coach Steve Gaudreau, now the head coach at Bedford. They're young: nine underclassmen, 13 juniors and six seniors dot the roster. Junior Matt Gormady is one of Pinkerton's skill players. On Monday, the attackman logged a game-high six goals alongside three assists. Advertisement Gormady's objective this season is to either reach the 100-point or 100-goal plateau — hopefully both, he said. As a sophomore last year, Gormady recorded 43 points. 'I'm very shifty,' Gormady said. 'I like to dodge my guys. When they press me out, that's what I like a lot because I like to just go and it leads to a bunch of goals.' Auger said Pinkerton has scoring depth rather than one or two superstar scorers. Freshman attackman Levi Weaver (four), Gormady's senior older brother Jeff (three), freshman midfielder Tyler Pinardi (two) senior midfielder Ben Quintiliani (two) all had multi-goal games on Monday. Advertisement The Astros have sets and run plays, but Auger said he wants his players to learn on their own where to be and what to do on the field. Auger mostly works with Pinkerton's offense. Ken Blaszka, who coached Timberlane for the past 10 years, joined the staff this spring and works mostly with the Astros' defense. Goalies Owen Perkins and Gavin Burwell, Brendan Carney, Caleb Hobden and Blaszka's son, Brady, are some of Pinkerton's notable defenders. Perkins, a sophomore, and Burwell, a junior, combined for a four-save shutout against the Blue Devils. Both goalies will see playing time early in the season. Advertisement With a 'phenomenal' defensive unit, Auger said he feels like Pinkerton has a shot against some of the better teams in the division. Matt Gormady agrees with his coach. 'Those other teams better look out for us this year,' the attackman said. ahall@
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norfolk midwife says Covid made her grateful for close contact
Before the pandemic, Erica Auger was involved in BBC Springwatch as a communications manager for a wildlife she'd always wanted to be a midwife and when she re-trained, she was looking forward to the close communication she would have with the women she did she realise her first experience of a maternity department would be dealing with a new disease during a worldwide what was birthing like for women during Covid, and what lessons have been learned? Erica's story In 2020, Erica Auger was driving between nature reserves across the East of England. But she wanted a more "varied" and "passion driven" career - and midwifery had always the time her student midwife placement began at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, the pandemic had started and the maternity ward was a different found her skill as a communicator stifled by a face mask."My first feelings were of apprehension," she says."It was scary, and we didn't really know what to expect."She said familiarity and close contact with mothers were key in midwifery and wearing masks made communication extremely difficult. "We were just worried that they [the patients] weren't getting the care they needed because we didn't know how to provide that care and we didn't know what was coming," she describes how midwives had to shower after meeting every pregnant woman who tested positive, and said the sheer numbers contracting the virus meant spending entire shifts with wet the role of student midwives became "extra special", she adds, as they acted as a "bridge", communicating with birthing partners who were no longer allowed onto wards. Ms Auger says she now feels more grateful for the one-to-one contact mothers and midwives are afforded since the relaxation of restrictions."Being pregnant is an extremely special time," she says."But it can often be a vulnerable time in women's and families' lives. So for us to be able to provide the care we want to - in the way that we want to - is really special."But are NHS staff worried they'll have to do it all again?"Being prepared for a second pandemic is like being prepared to have a second baby," Ms Auger says."They're never going to be the same as the one before. All you can do is learn from the first and take those tools with you."Ms Auger says staff built resilience and coping mechanisms, and it was unlikely they would face the same set of circumstances twice. Emma's story Emma Woods describes her first pregnancy and birth, during the pandemic as "isolating".She said her husband Tom, couldn't join her for any of the scans."It was so magical seeing him [baby Arlo] on the ultrasound, I felt really sad that my husband couldn't actually see that," she says."Not having birth partners at scans and appointments was something that should never have happened."The people that had to have the heartbreaking news that their baby didn't have a heartbeat at an ultrasound were on their own, and they can never go back and share that moment."The couple also had to take part in antenatal classes online. Arlo spent the first days of his life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Her husband wasn't allowed onto the ward and could only stay on NICU for two hours at a Woods says the only time she could take the paper mask off her face was in bed. Self-isolation, she says, continued at home."It was lockdown, so we knew we wouldn't have people round our house," she said. Ms Woods described being on their own in a bubble with their first child as "scary", but also said it was "nice" that they got time together as a family. After the pandemic, Ms Woods missed out on mother and baby groups."I think that's so essential," she says. "It gets you out of the house, it gets you talking."We were ready to sign up to swimming, but it was six months before he [Arlo] could join."She said she "really missed out" on early interactions and the chance to make friends, but she turned it into a positive, setting up a "safe space" for parents, called Little Loves describes it as a chilled-out baby sensory and play session, where parents and children get together in a room filled with tents, baby swings, dimmed lights and mellow music. Ms Woods said giving birth to her second child almost two years ago was a "completely different experience".She had continuity of care with her midwife and gave birth with much less "anxiety".Ms Woods said that the world had "come a long way" since Covid and getting out and spending time with her children "was what she loved about being a mum". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBC
12-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
Hockey Quebec announces ban on smelling salts, citing health risk for players
Hockey Quebec is banning the use of smelling salts, citing concern over their use by young players. The governing body published a directive Tuesday stating the ammonia-based inhalants are no longer allowed during games, practices and organized activities. Hockey Quebec confirmed in an email that at least one coach in the province has been suspended in relation to the use of smelling salts by players in the under-11 age group. Smelling salts were originally developed to revive people who had fainted, but they are also marketed toward athletes seeking an energy boost and are a common sight on NHL hockey benches. The directive published on Facebook said that while smelling salts are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, inhaling ammonia-based products can have health effects. "Ammonia rapidly produces upper respiratory tract irritation, coughing, and bronchospasm," read the directive signed by general manager Stéphane Auger. "A more significant exposure will cause edema of the respiratory tract." Auger wrote that the organization plans to develop rules and a policy on the use of the products by next season, in collaboration with health agencies and Hockey Canada. Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor and director of McGill University's office for science and society, said smelling salts are mostly made up of ammonium carbonate. They work by releasing ammonia, which is often used in cleaning products and has a "pretty annoying smell," he said. "The effect is that, when you sniff ammonia, it irritates the lining of the nose," he said in a phone interview. "And when it gets irritated, it causes you to all of a sudden take a deep breath. And when you're taking a deep breath, you're inhaling more oxygen." He said that while smelling salts were seen as effective in the Victorian era for reviving people who fainted, there is "absolutely no evidence" that they improve athletic performance. "The placebo effect can be very potent, but there's no evidence that it actually increases adrenalin or increases strength or anything," he said. On the other hand, despite the concerns voiced by Hockey Quebec, he also hasn't seen any scientific studies suggesting commercially available smelling salt capsules pose any real health risk. He's not in favour of their use among children, he said, but most of the dangerous side effects of ammonia are linked to people who work in industrial settings with large quantities of the gas.
