Suffolk County, Boston | featured news

The following statement was read in court today at the sentencing of Samson Donick, 22, when he pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery, assault and battery and misdemeanor breaking and entering in a plea agreement with prosecutors and the victim of his assault. Her statement is presented in its entirety below. "Thank you Judge Sanders for allowing me this opportunity to address the court.

AGAWAM, Mass. — A man has been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside an Agawam home following an hours-long standoff with police.Masslive.com reports Michael Kerr was found dead after barricading himself inside a house.Agawam police say Massachusetts State police negotiators made 40 unanswered phone calls to Kerr, and sent a robot into the house.Nearby residents were ordered to leave their homes.Relatives said Kerr was suffering from depression.___

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — A Newburyport District Court judge says a former pastor charged with raping a child can be released if he posts bail.The Daily News of Newburyport reports 65-year-old Russell Davis of Seabrook, New Hampshire, who pleaded not guilty, will be held on $5,000 bail following a dangerousness hearing.The Essex County District Attorney's Office says Davis is charged with raping a child with force as well as indecent assault and battery for alleged assaults that happened in 2004.

The state Cannabis Control Commission voted to give 20 existing medical marijuana companies a leg up in the process to secure a coveted recreational license later this year, but refused to say which companies they approved during or immediately after the vote.“I don't know I see a need for that,” CCC chairman Steve Hoffman told reporters after the public hearing. “We're not hiding anything, we're just trying to do things as efficiently as possible.”

A former MIT student was forced to publicly apologize to a Boston University grad whose dorm room he now admits he broke into more than two years ago in order to sexually assault her as she slept, telling the victim today in front of her parents and his, "I'm extremely sorry and I always will be."

REVERE, Mass. — State police say the woman hit in Revere by a vehicle that left the scene has died.Police announced Tuesday that 46-year-old Maryann Fiandaca was struck on Route 145 at about 8:30 p.m. Monday died. She was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital after she was struck.Police said the vehicle left the scene, but on Monday announced that they have identified the driver, a man from Revere.Hi name was not released and the death remains under investigation.

A hit-and-run crash left a woman in critical condition last night in Revere, police said.The crash happened about 8:30 p.m. on Route 145, state police said.“The motorist fled after the crash,” police said in a statement.State police said they are looking for a dark-colored sport utility vehicle, possibly blue or black.“It is possible that the vehicle will have body damage,” police said. “The investigation is active. We are working on getting additional information regarding the vehicle and driver to release.”

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — A Massachusetts man previously convicted of child pornography charges has pleaded guilty to enticing young girls to send him explicit photos in exchange for concert tickets.The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that 35-year-old Eric Lacoste pleaded guilty Monday to charges of posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct, enticement of a child younger than 16, and possession of child pornography.The Granby man spent six months behind bars after pleading guilty in 2014 to dissemination of obscene matter to a minor.

HOLYOKE, Mass. — Police say they have found an arsenal of weapons as well as chemicals that can be used to manufacture explosives in a Massachusetts home.Holyoke police went to 49-year-old Edward Laboursoliere's home Sunday after getting a call from his wife.Police say they found 17 guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and chemicals for making explosives, including ammonium nitrate.Not guilty pleas to 26 charges were entered on Laboursoliere's behalf at his arraignment Monday. He was held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for April 17.

One of the city’s largest developers violated a construction agreement with the MBTA and sent concrete falling to the floor of the Silver Line’s World Trade Center station, officials said.And a government watchdog is calling for more oversight of agreements regulating construction near T sites, fearing the potential for injury and death similar to past mishaps in Boston tunnels.