Worcester Criminal Law Blog

Teachers can end up the targets of accusations, even in Massachusetts. A Milwaukee teacher is being held in a medical facility after an alleged suicide attempt due to accusations of sexually molesting at least two of her students. While these accusations occurred in Wisconsin, similar accusations of sex crimes being leveled against faculty members of public schools occur in Massachusetts as well.

The incident came about as a result of the teacher reportedly being caught engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old student. According to investigators, a passerby became aware of the incident and notified authorities. The teacher was suspended from her duties at the high school where she taught science, and has been admitted to a medical facility. Subsequently, another student has come forward with a similar accusation of molestation.

Massachusetts lawmakers are being urged by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to adopt stricter laws related to drunk driving. An NTSB Chairman has stated that she believes that many people in America believe that drunk driving is no longer an issue, but it still claims approximately 10,000 lives a year. The board believes that lowering the legal blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limit could reduce instances of drunk driving.

The NTSB is not able to make changes to the way that drunk driving is handled in states on its own, but the board is very influential and a number of lawmakers are in agreement with the board in these matters. The suggestions being made include lowering the legal BAC from its current level of 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent and using passive alcohol sensors.

Massachusetts residents may be interested in a new development in the case against a New Hampshire man accused of strangling a woman to death. According to an affidavit of police transcripts released in court on May 6, the suspect admitted his involvement in the woman's death, but said that they death was accidental and occurred as part of a bondage/sado-masochistic (BDSM) sex act that went too far.

The man is being charged with first- and second-degree murder for the death, which occurred in his apartment on October 9, 2012. He has not been charged with sex crimes at this point. In an interview with police on October 12, the man said that he, the woman who died and his girlfriend were playing strip poker in his apartment on the evening of October 9. Their conversation turned toward BDSM sex acts. Eventually, the conversation became reality and they all three participated in an autoerotic asphyxiation act in which the suspect tightened a rope around the woman's neck while he had intercourse with her.

A 25-year-old North Eastham man is facing cruelty to animals charge after he left his Golden Retriever in his Honda Civic at Cape Cod Community College. A container with six bags of marijuana was seen as officers attempted to aid the dog, so he faces drug charges as well.

Barnstable Police discovered the dog while patrolling the school parking lot. It was 70 degrees outside, and officers gave the dog a drink of water through an opening in the window. A school patrol officer identified the car's owner, and attempts were made to contact him on his cell phone. Barnstable Animal Control arrived and determined the temperature inside the car was 106 degrees, so the officers opened the door and took possession of the dog.