Latest news with #SpringfieldDistrictCourt
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Two arrested in connection to March arson in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a March arson that destroyed a shed and damaged a home on Kamuda Street in Springfield. According to authorities, 51-year-old Nelson Martins, of Ludlow, and Wendy Champagne, 47, of Ware, were both arrested Wednesday on Canal Street in Ware. The arrests followed a months-long investigation into a shed fire that occurred on March 1, 2025. On the night of the incident, Springfield firefighters were called to a property on the 0–100 block of Kamuda Street where a shed was on fire. Crews were able to extinguish the fire, which destroyed the shed and caused damage to the nearby home. No injuries were reported. An investigation led by the Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad concluded the fire had been deliberately set. Detectives identified Martins and Champagne as suspects in the case. According to the landlord of the property, the two were being evicted at the time of the fire for nonpayment of rent. A warrant for their arrest was obtained on May 14. Martins faces multiple charges, including: Arrest warrant for arson (Springfield District Court) Default warrant (Dudley District Court) Default warrant (Ayer District Court) Arrest warrant (Marlborough District Court) Champagne is charged with: Arrest warrant for arson (Springfield District Court) WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Amherst man sentenced for child abuse material offenses
BOSTON (WWLP) – A man from Amherst was sentenced in Springfield District Court for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Amherst student to face charges after fire in UMass dorm room The Department of Justice states that 27-year-old Bradley Driscoll of Amherst was knowingly distributing and possessing (CSAM) on or around August 29th, 2022. He would engage in a Kik chat conversation with an undercover agent where he expressed interest in obtaining CSAM materials. He also gave a link to the undercover agent that contained 345 CSAM files depicting minor children, with some as young as one year old. Driscoll admitted in September of 2023 that he was the owner of the Kik username and that he got the link containing the CSAM files through other Kik messenger chat groups. He stated that he asked the undercover agent to send him CSAM and also said that the link he shared contained sexual materials involving young children. Driscoll was sentenced to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to the victims. Back in February, Driscoll pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023. This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher no longer at West Springfield school after ex-students bring allegations of sexually charged exchanges
SPRINGFIELD — At 17, she told a trusted teacher at Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative that she just wanted a father. Hers had died in the waters of the Connecticut River in 2013, according to published reports. She was a small child then. Her mother had her own struggles, and the girl ended up in foster care. Kenneth Strout, a kindly information technology teacher, offered to be a father figure to her, according to records filed in Springfield District Court. And she was glad, until the tenor of the relationship changed in her senior year at the West Springfield trade school, which serves seven districts. Strout, of Monson, has been charged with two counts of annoying or accosting a member of the opposite sex, after two former students came forward to the the West Springfield police. The Republican has interviewed both of the alleged victims, but will not identify them to protect their privacy, given the allegations. The younger student, now a freshman at Western New England University, said the comfort that Strout offered to 'treat her like a daughter' quickly took a turn. 'He drove me home a number of times, telling me he had permission from the school, which was apparently false, and one time he brought me through a car wash and asked me to take my clothes off,' she said during an interview with The Republican. He began asking for nude pictures. She declined, according to a police report obtained by The Republican and interviews with the 19-year-old. After she went to school administrators and was encouraged to leave the matter alone, she said, she began poring through yearbooks to contact other female students to determine whether they had similar experiences with Strout. 'I cannot believe I was the first one he did this to. There had to be others,' she said. 'I just didn't want to be silent and have this happen to anyone else.' She has since blocked him on social media, she added. One other former student, who moved to Florida and is now 21, shared that she had unsettling exchanges with Strout on social media apps after she and her family relocated. 'He started messaging me on Snapchat, TikTok, all my social media. Until I blocked him,' the woman said during an interview on Thursday. She shared several text exchanges, including a shot of Strout's nude torso and face while he was in the shower, among others, and her responses. 'What are you in college for? Your (sic) the only student I've ever wanted to see naked fyi,' he wrote, according to the exchange provided from the second woman. 'That's a little weird Mr. Strout don't u think? Like I was very much underage in ur (sic) class ... jail bait,' she responded. 'That's awesome you want comp sci ... I know and I never said anything when you where (sic) my student,' Strout responded, according to the messages shared with the newspaper. 'I'm sorry if it's weird or uncomfortable. I will stop,' he said. The messages were sent under the handle 'TikTok Dad,' which also aligned with the torso shot the 21-year-old alleged victim shared. A lawyer for Strout, who pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month, said his client plans to fight the charges. 'This has all been overblown, and it will play out in court,' said Boston attorney Kenneth H. Anderson. The defense attorney also confirmed Strout no longer works at the school. 'It was a mutual decision,' Anderson said. A call placed to the school was not returned on Thursday. The younger alleged victim told West Springfield Police Detective Nicole Hebert that she felt she had been manipulated by Strout. 'She said she just wanted a dad,' Hebert wrote, and that Strout said if the girl lived with him, 'he wouldn't be able to control himself,' according to the report. The police report adds that Strout asked her to 'send him pics' after she turned 18, and she conceded to send one in a bra. He said he found her 'sexually attractive' after she turned 18 last year, the report notes. Certain staff rallied around Strout when he was placed on a three-week suspension, according to the police report. It was a misunderstanding, some said, warning not to ruin Strout's reputation. Springfield District Court Judge Danielle Williams released Strout on his own recognizance but ordered him to have no contact with the victims, plus a mandate for him to stay away from children under 16 without supervision, barring his own children and stepchildren. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Springfield man arrested for multiple charges of sexual assault on minors
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Springfield resident was arrested in connection with multiple charges of sexual assault of minors. Belchertown man sentenced to life for 2021 Springfield murder In a news release from the Springfield Police Department, an investigation was conducted after a sexual assault was reported. This led to additional victims coming forward and an arrest warrant was issued for 44-year-old Angel Soto of Springfield. At around 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Soto was found at a Hadley hotel on Russell Street and arrested on the following charges: Arrest Warrant – Springfield District Court Aggravated Rape of a Child – Five Year Age Difference Sell/Deliver Liquor to a Person Under 21 Obscene Matter to a Minor (Two Counts) Assault to Rape a Child Indecent Exposure (Three Counts) Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child under 14 (Seven Counts) Aggravated Rape of a Child – Ten Year Age Difference (Five Counts) Witness Intimidation Rape of a Child with Force under 16 (Two Counts) Furnish Marijuana to a Person under 21 Years Old Open and Gross Lewdness Arrest Warrant – Chicopee District Court Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License – Subsequent Offense Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle Speeding WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Springfield man who police say threatened to shoot people at bank pleads not guilty
A Springfield man pleaded not guilty after officials said he threatened to shoot people at TD Bank and punched a police officer. On March 18, Michael Lane, 65, was causing a disturbance at TD Bank in downtown Springfield around 1:15 p.m., including threatening to shoot people, the Springfield Police Department said. TD Bank employees pressed the panic alarm, which called the police. When officers arrived, they said Lane began throwing punches at an officer and ultimately punched one officer in the face. Multiple officers could be seen in a video outside TD Bank slowly walking toward Lane while he threw punches and resisted arrest. After making contact with the officer, the police attempted to grab Lane. While fighting with police, Lane fell to the ground. Police said he was drive-stunned via a taser and taken into custody. He was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault. On March 19, Springfield District Court Judge Bethzaida Sanabria-Vega ordered a mental health examination to be evaluated for competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility. He was brought to Bridgewater State Hospital and an arraignment was scheduled for April 8. However, it got rescheduled to April 24. He was ordered held without bail and is continuing to stay at Bridgewater State Hospital. Lane previously had two arrest warrants from Chicopee District Court, including breaking and entering at night, a felony, trespassing and disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Friends, family needed for paid New England resort commercial Springfield man arrested twice in 6 hours accused of aiming gun at police Ground broken for long-awaited splash pad at Whalley Park A 'Royal Tea Party' among May events at Amelia Park Children's Museum Karen Read trial live updates: Jury to visit crime scene on 4th day of trial Read the original article on MassLive.
