13-05-2025
Worcester judge sets trial date for woman detained by ICE on separate charge
A trial date has been set for a Brazilian woman, who last week was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, in connection with a domestic case she was previously charged with.
Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira was charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant victim.
She initially appeared in court on Feb. 3, where she pleaded not guilty and paid $500 cash bail, according to court records. Her last court appearance was a pretrial hearing on March 24.
On Tuesday, Judge Zachary Hillman scheduled Ferreira-De Oliveira's trial date for July 18, according to court filings. Hillman requested that the Worcester County Sheriff's Department arrange for Ferreira-De Oliveira to be present in court that day.
Ferreira-De Oliveira is currently being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS).
Defense attorney Sarah Amorin asked Judge Hillman to lift a no-contact order with Ferreira-De Oliveira's relative, the Telegram & Gazette reported. While Assistant District Attorney Matthew Kimmelstiel objected, Hillman ruled in favor of Amorin's motion, but noted that the conditions against Ferreira-De Oliveira and her relative living together were still enforced.
Kimmelstiel argued against the trial date, and added that it will be difficult to prepare with a two-month time window with Ferreira-De Oliveira in ICE's custody, the Telegram wrote. He said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. will ask ICE not to deport Ferreira-De Oliveira until the domestic case has concluded.
At 1:47 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, a Worcester police officer went to an apartment on Main Street, the police report read. A relative told the officer that Ferreira-De Oliveira struck them with a phone charging cable and was aware of the person's pregnancy. Ferreira-De Oliveira was arrested that day.
Days after ICE agents detained Ferreira-De Oliveira and Worcester police arrested two people, including Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughter and Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement about Ferreira-De Oliveira's prior charges.
'The target of this ICE operation was a violent criminal illegal alien, Ferreira de Oliveira. She was arrested by local police for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a pregnant victim,' according to the statement obtained by WHDH-TV.
In the days after Ferreira-De Oliveira's arrest by ICE, residents have spoken out online and protests have been held outside City Hall. Following two protests on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, another protest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
After Tuesday night's city council meeting was set to be held remotely, Mayor Joseph Petty said Tuesday morning that it was done so after elected and city officials received 'threats of violence.' In holding the meeting remotely, Petty added that the decision was made 'in the hope of easing tensions and to provide more time to get information to the community.'
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Read the original article on MassLive.