Office of Northwestern District Attorney

David E. Sullivan

_________________________
2017 Annual Report

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY 3
STAFF AND ORGANIZATION 4
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM 6
SUPERIOR COURT 6
CHILD ABUSE 10
ELDERS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND TRIAD 15
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT 18
APPELLATE 25
SEXUALLY DANGEROUS PERSONS 26
DISTRICT COURT 27
JUVENILE JUSTICE 28
VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE 30
CONSUMER PROTECTION 32
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION 33
CIVIL RIGHTS REVIEW TEAM 35
COMMUNICATIONS 36
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 36
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE DETECTIVE AND NARCOTICS 38
ONGOING INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS 38
Veterans Justice Partnership, Western Mass Veterans Treatment Court, Restorative Justice, LEAP,
Opioid Task Force of Franklin and the North Quabbin Region, Hampshire HOPE,
Northampton Recovery Center, School Safety and Security Task Force, NoFIRES, Internships,
Federal Grants, Drug Diversion & Treatment Program

FISCAL 47
CONTACT INFORMATION 48

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 Message from District Attorney David E. Sullivan
I am pleased to share the Office of the Northwestern District Attorney
(NWDA) 2017 Annual Report. The hallmark of our success continues to
be our emphasis on smart and fair prosecutions, progressive prevention
initiatives, and outstanding victim assistance. Our dedicated prosecutors,
victim advocates, and staff are committed to addressing the challenges of
child abuse, substance abuse, domestic violence and other serious
matters impacting the safety and quality of life in our 47 Northwestern
communities. Our 2017 Annual Report highlights the achievements of
NWDA and our many community partners.
In 2017, there were many cases in which our prosecutors distinguished themselves in the courtroom
seeking justice for victims of crime. Our victim advocates provided outstanding assistance to our victims
and survivors. We have highlighted some of these cases in this report.
Although the Opioid Crisis continues to have a devastating impact on families and communities in our
region, the NWDA has been able to strengthen its role in bringing community and state resources
together to address this epidemic. We take a leadership role in the Opioid Task Force of Franklin and
North Quabbin and in the Hampshire Heroin Opioid Prevention and Education Coalition (Hampshire
HOPE). In 2017, our collective efforts resulted in a 38% decrease in opioid fatalities in the
Northwestern District. We also continued to strongly advocate for improved treatment, recovery, and
prevention services.
During 2017, the NWDA was awarded a second year of federal grant funding to expand our successful
Drug Diversion and Treatment Program (DDTP), an innovative court diversion program which offers drug
treatment in lieu of prosecution to non-violent adult offenders who have a substance use disorder and
are charged with certain drug-related crimes. Additionally, Lynn Ferro, our Director of Opioid Research
& Recovery Services, was instrumental in establishing the Northampton Recovery Center, a peer
recovery center that provides support and services to fill the needs of people in recovery in Hampshire
County.
Consumer protection education about telephone and internet scams; addressing teen dating violence
and college sexual assault; our annual Safe & Healthy School Summit; and strengthening partnerships
with local substance abuse prevention coalitions; are just some of the prevention and public safety
efforts our DA Office was engaged with in 2017.
We were pleased to bring a nationally recognized Fair and Impartial Training to many of our police
departments and prosecutors. This training was vital in helping law enforcement and prosecutors
understand and address unconscious bias that may impact their fair and just handling of criminal
matters.
I am proud of the many justice initiatives our dedicated prosecutors and staff have worked on in the
past year. We appreciate our state and federal legislators, community partners, and law enforcement
professionals that support our mission and efforts. I am deeply honored and grateful for the
opportunity to serve as District Attorney for the people of the Northwestern District. I look forward to
working with you and many other community members in the future.
Sincerely,

David E. Sullivan
District Attorney 3|Page
 STAFF AND ORGANIZATION 2017

Senior Management Team Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Unit

David E. Sullivan, District Attorney ADA Jennifer Suhl, Chief

Janice Healy, Deputy District Attorney Mary Kociela, Director of DV Projects
Steven E. Gagne, First Assistant District Richard Aucoin, AWARE/DVIP Coordinator
Attorney Carly Estrela, High Risk Team Coordinator *
Martha Murphy Kane, Director of Operations Katie Rosewarne, High Risk Team Coordinator
Donna Dudkiewicz, Chief Financial Officer *Formerly held position

Superior Court
Appellate Unit
First Assistant DA Steven E. Gagne
ADA Thomas Townsend, Chief
Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci
ADA Steven Greenbaum
ADA Jayme Parent
ADA Cynthia Von Flatern
ADA Linda Pisano
Jamie Foster, Paralegal
ADA Jennifer Suhl
ADA Matthew Thomas
ADA Anne Yereniuk District Court
ADA Caleb Weiner
Ann Metzger, Senior Case Administrator ADA Rosemary Tarantino, Chief (Retired)
Mary-Elizabeth Connly, Superior Court ADA Michael Russo, Chief
Administrator ADA Marie Angers, (AIC/DV) Northampton
ADA Nicholas Atallah
Economic Crimes Unit ADA Andrew Covington
ADA Becky Michaels, (AIC/DV) Greenfield*
Child Abuse Unit ADA Lori Odierna
ADA Robert Opsitnick (AIC/DV), Eastern
ADA Linda Pisano, Chief Hampshire
ADA Caleb Weiner ADA Sarah Pascal
Kellie Beaulieu, Unit Coordinator/ ADA Elizabeth Priest (AIC/DV), Orange
Advocate/Forensic Interviewer ADA Matt Russo
Kathy Bengtson, Family Service Advocate ADA Ryan Scott
Heather Hubbard, Unit Administrator ADA Joseph Webber (AIC/DV) Greenfield
Deb Kierstead, Family Service Advocate *AIC=Attorney-In-Charge
Suzanne Koch, Forensic Interviewer *DV=Specialized Domestic Violence ADA
*Formerly held position
Linda Rogers, Family Service Advocate
Sonia Serrazina, Forensic Interviewer/Advocate Juvenile Justice Unit
Jamie Foster, Paralegal
ADA Yvonne Pesce, Chief (Retired)
Elders & Persons with Disabilities Unit ADA Elizabeth Mulcahy, Chief
ADA Bruce Patryn
ADA Jayme Parent, Chief ADA Caitlyn Rock
Chris Geffin, EPD Unit & TRIAD Coordinator Luisa Cruz, Juvenile Court Administrator
(Retired)
Rachel Senecal, EPD Unit & TRIAD Coordinator

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 Victim/Witness Assistance Unit State Police Detective Unit

Jackie Gaw, Director Detective Lt. John Cummings, Unit Commander

Bonnie Press, Deputy Director (Retired)
Lori Roy, Supervisor Lt. Mike Habel, Unit Commander*
Wendy Adams, Advocate Detective Lt. Jeff Cahill, Unit Commander
Kate Clogston, Advocate Lt. Joe Ballou, Executive Officer
Heather Darling, Advocate Lt. Christopher Ray, Narcotics Unit (Retired)
Kim Devine, Advocate Sgt. Michael Andrews, Narcotics Unit*
Carly Estrela, Advocate Sgt. Christopher Baran, Narcotics Unit
Janice Francis, Advocate 8 State Police Troopers
Karyn Miller, Advocate *Formerly held position

Jennifer Reid, Advocate

Consumer Protection Unit Administrative Staff

Janice Garrett, Director Donna Jackson, Franklin County Office

Caroline Smith, Case Coordinator (Retired) Supervisor
Anita Wilson, Case Coordinator Mary Bates, District Court Administrator
Luisa Cruz, Juvenile Court Administrator
Jamie Foster, Paralegal
Outreach and Education
Debra Jacques, District Court Administrator
Cameron Jerome, District Court Administrator
Laurie Loisel, Director
Casandra Jerome, Litigation Support Specialist
Dan Carey, Director, Drug Diversion &
Kelley Mason, Paralegal, DAMION Administrator
Treatment Program
Pat Matusiewicz, Administrative Assistant
Lynn Ferro, Director of Opioid Research &
Vicky Novotny, SPDU Administrative Assistant
Recovery Support Services
Erin O’Brien, Administrative Assistant
Lauren O’Roark, District Court Administrator
Michelle Richotte, Executive Assistant
Civil Rights Review Team Rachel Senecal, District Court Administrator*
Karin Sheehy, Administrative Assistant (Retired)
Deputy DA Janice Healy, Co-Chair Sue Snyder, Executive Assistant
ADA Rosemary Tarantino, Co-Chair (Retired) Maria Sotolongo, District Court Administrator
ADA Elizabeth Mulcahy Alyssa Stankowski, District Court Administrator
ADA Michael Russo Tara Wilson, Administrative Assistant
Laurie Loisel, Director, Community Outreach & Megan Zoglio, District Court Administrator*
Education *Formerly held position

Communications Unit
Fiscal
Mary Carey, Director
Donna Dudkiewicz, Chief Financial Officer
Higy Chan, Fiscal Assistant
IT Department Jess Diemand, Fiscal/Administrative Assistant

Bruce Fieldman, Director

Nathan Foote, IT Systems Support Engineer

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 Often times, a case must be prosecuted in
Superior Court because, due to the nature of
the crime, the District Court lacks jurisdiction
over it; examples include murder, rape,
robbery, extortion and drug trafficking. But
many times, a case that could be prosecuted in
District Court is instead indicted and prosecuted
in Superior Court, where lengthier state prison
sentences are available. The decision to indict a
case is based on many factors, including the
nature of the crime, the defendant’s criminal
record, and any aggravating factors that may
NWDA Senior Management Team left to right, exist. Once indicted, a case is resolved either
Donna Dudkiewicz, Deputy DA Janice Healy, through a jury trial (with a 12-person jury), a
Director of Operations Martie Murphy Kane, “jury-waived” trial (in which the judge hears the
DA Sullivan, First ADA Steve Gagne evidence and renders a verdict), or a guilty plea.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

The District Attorney relies on his senior
management team to help him administer the
Office and implement the goals, objectives and
priorities of his administration. His senior
managers- Deputy District Attorney Jan Healy,
First Assistant Steve Gagne, Director of
Operations Martie Murphy Kane and Chief
Financial Officer Donna Dudkiewicz, ensure that
the underlying policies, infrastructure and
finances of the Northwestern District Attorney’s
Office fully support the DA’s vision and the The Hampshire County Courthouse,
critical work that the Office does on behalf of Northampton Republican/MassLive photo
the residents of the 47 communities in our
District.

Grand Jury
SUPERIOR COURT
In order for a case to reach Superior Court, it
Some of the most serious and/or complex must first be presented to the Grand Jury for
criminal cases are prosecuted in the Hampshire indictment. The Grand Jury is comprised of 23
and Franklin Superior Courts, where those citizens who, during their three-month term of
convicted of crimes can receive sentences service, hear a variety of cases and determine
ranging from lengthy probation to periods of whether there is probable cause to believe a
incarceration in either the House of Correction crime has been committed by a particular
or state prison. There are eight Assistant person or persons. “Probable cause” means
District Attorneys who primarily prosecute reasonable grounds to believe that a particular
cases in Superior Court, covering crimes that person committed a crime, and is a lower
occur in all 47 cities and towns within the standard of proof than is required to convict a
Northwestern District. defendant at trial.

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When an Assistant District Attorney presents a Early Involvement
case to the Grand Jury, he or she must include
any significant exculpatory or mitigating Police and prosecutors often work together
evidence that might seriously affect the Grand from the very earliest stages of an investigation,
Jury’s decision to indict. This requirement which ultimately leads to stronger cases and
ensures that the integrity of the Grand Jury better outcomes. Superior Court Assistant
process is preserved, and that indictments are District Attorneys participate in a 24/7 “on-call”
based on sufficiently trustworthy evidence. rotation, ensuring that a prosecutor is available
at all hours of the day (or night) to assist local
Although Grand Jury proceedings are police departments when a major crime and/or
confidential, a stenographic record of each suspicious death occurs. This assistance can
presentation is created, and is capable of being consist of answering any legal questions that
reviewed by a Superior Court judge if a may arise, reviewing search warrant
defendant later challenges the sufficiency or the applications, and weighing in on the
integrity of the evidence presented to the appropriate charges to file. Once involved in a
Grand Jury. A recent development in case from its earliest stages, the prosecutor will
Massachusetts case law also requires that any then keep the case as it makes its way through
legal instructions provided to the Grand Jury be the court system.
recorded as well, to ensure the Grand Jury was
properly and sufficiently instructed on the law
that applies to the cases they hear.

At the conclusion of each presentation, at least

12 of the 23 Grand Jurors must find that
probable cause exists for an indictment to issue.
Indicted cases then proceed to arraignment in
Superior Court, where every defendant is
entitled to legal representation by an attorney.
Once indicted, a case must be proven beyond a
reasonable doubt for a conviction to result.
Prosecutors and State Police assigned to the
Northwestern DA’s Office assist at a crime
scene. Republican/MassLive photo

In addition, two District Court prosecutors are

specifically assigned to respond to the scene of
all fatal and potentially-fatal motor vehicle
crashes, where they assist with the
investigation from the very outset. Most
serious or fatal crashes are investigated by the
Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis
and Reconstruction Section (“CARS”), providing
a technical analysis of the factors that
Superior Court ADA Matt Thomas contributed to the crash.

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Among some of the more notable Superior Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne,
Court cases prosecuted in 2017 were: together with Victim-Witness Advocate Wendy
Adams.
Commonwealth v. Jesse Carrillo (Hampshire
Superior Court) – the defendant, a graduate
student at UMass-Amherst, was charged with In 2017, Superior Court prosecutors
involuntary manslaughter for selling a fatal dose obtained indictments in 150 new
of heroin to an undergraduate student, on the cases in the Hampshire and Franklin
theory that heroin is an inherently dangerous Superior Courts. During the year,
drug whose risks are widely known. The case 108 cases were resolved by way of trial,
was tried before a jury in May 2017, resulting in plea, or other disposition. Convictions
the defendant’s conviction for involuntary or admissions of guilt were obtained in
manslaughter and distribution of heroin. The 82% of all cases resolved in 2017.
defendant was sentenced to serve one year in
the Hampshire County House of Correction, Commonwealth v. Jovan Robinson (Franklin
followed by a period of probation. The case Superior Court) – the defendant, an interstate
was prosecuted by Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy truck driver, pled guilty to solicitation and
Bucci, with assistance from Chief Victim Witness
threatening to commit a crime, after he held a
Advocate Jackie Gaw. woman against her will and transported her
Commonwealth v. Edward Fleury (Hampshire over state lines. The victim was able to escape
Superior Court) – the defendant, a former from the defendant at a truck stop in Whately,
Pelham police chief, was charged with where she called 911. The prosecution of this
numerous counts of improper storage of case became much more difficult once the
firearms, many of which were high-capacity victim tragically died of an overdose.
weapons, which police discovered strewn Notwithstanding that, the prosecutor pursued
throughout his residence. The defendant was other avenues of introducing enough
convicted of several felonies after a jury trial, circumstantial evidence to sustain a conviction,
for which the Court placed him on probation for which resulted in a plea agreement that sent
two years and fined him $7500. As a result of the defendant to jail for 18 months. The case
his felony convictions, the defendant can no was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney
longer possess firearms of any kind. The case Anne Yereniuk, with assistance from Victim-
was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Witness Advocate Lori Roy.
Matthew Thomas.
Commonwealth v. Eric Legare & Brian
Commonwealth v. Ryan Brunelle (Hampshire Welvaert (Franklin Superior Court) – these
Superior Court) – the defendant’s vehicle codefendants were charged with involuntary
crossed over the center line on Route 116 in manslaughter and distribution of heroin in
South Hadley and collided with an oncoming connection with the fatal overdose of a 21-year-
car, claiming the life of a 29-year-old father of old man in Athol. Legare was indicted as the
two young children. The defendant claimed he actual dealer, whereas Welvaert was charged as
had fallen asleep behind the wheel, but a joint venture for driving Legare from location
toxicology testing on his blood revealed both to location. Both men ultimately pled guilty,
prescription and non-prescription medications with Legare receiving a five-year state prison
in his system. He pled guilty to felony motor sentence and Welvaert being placed on
vehicle homicide, for which he was sentenced probation. These cases were prosecuted by
to one year in the Hampshire County House of Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci, with
Correction, accompanied by a 15-year loss of assistance from Victim-Witness Advocate
license. The case was prosecuted by First Heather Darling.

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 Tarantino, together with Victim-Witness
Advocate Bonnie Press.

Commonwealth v. Christopher Estes

(Hampshire Superior Court) – during his tenure
as the treasurer of the Alpha Tau Gamma
fraternity at UMass-Amherst, the defendant
embezzled $130,000 for his own personal use.
When the fraternity noticed some financial
irregularities, the defendant resigned as
treasurer and admitted that he had stolen the
ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT funds. He pled guilty to larceny over $250, for
which he was sentenced to one year in the
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office’s Hampshire County House of Correction,
Economic Crimes Unit investigates and followed by five years of probation. The case
prosecutes cases involving financial fraud and was prosecuted by First Assistant District
exploitation. The majority of these crimes are Attorney Steven E. Gagne, together with Chief
committed by bookkeepers, bank tellers, Victim-Witness Advocate Jackie Gaw.
cashiers, caretakers, and other offenders who
misuse positions of trust to victimize elders, Commonwealth v. Kenneth Pontz (Hampshire
disabled persons, and/or employers. Since its Superior Court) – the defendant embezzled
inception in 2012, the Economic Crimes Unit $46,000 in homeowner association funds from a
has investigated and prosecuted crimes mobile home park in Belchertown. He admitted
involving nearly $3 million in documented his crimes to the police, and pled guilty to two
losses. Unfortunately, in many cases, those counts of larceny over $250. The Court
convicted of financial crimes no longer have the sentenced the defendant to seven years of
means of making full restitution to their victims, supervised probation, during which time he
having long-since squandered the money. must pay restitution. The case was prosecuted
Victims must often pursue civil remedies to hold by Assistant District Attorney Jayme Parent,
the offenders financially accountable. with assistance from Victim-Witness Advocate
Kate Clogston.
Some of the more notable financial fraud cases
prosecuted in 2017 include:
Commonwealth v. Jennifer Fox (Franklin
Superior Court) - The defendant was the long-
time office manager for an eye doctor’s office in
Franklin County, which enabled her to siphon
cash from the daily receipts before depositing
them at the bank. Due to the complexity of her
scheme, and the long-term scope of her crime,
this case took years to investigate and
prosecute, culminating in her guilty plea in
March 2017. She was placed on probation for District Attorney Sullivan with members of the
five years, during which time she must pay Insurance Fraud Bureau.
$30,000 in restitution. The case was jointly
prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Janice
Healy and Assistant District Attorney Rosemary

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INSURANCE FRAUD Quabbin Region to provide a multi-disciplinary
approach to responding to child abuse.
2017 marked the fifth year that the
Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has
partnered with the Insurance Fraud Bureau of
Massachusetts (IFB), to identify and prosecute
instances of insurance fraud. The IFB was
authorized by an Act of the Massachusetts
Legislature and signed into law in 1990, and
conducts criminal investigations and refers
appropriate cases for criminal prosecution.
Although most insurance fraud prosecutions
handled by the Northwestern District Attorney’s
Office involve automobile insurance fraud, CAU Chief, ADA Linda Pisano
recent years have seen an uptick of cases Daily Hampshire Gazette photo
involving large-scale health insurance fraud.

The most recent example involved a Licensed

Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
based in Easthampton who is alleged to have
billed a health insurance company for
$130,000.00 in counseling sessions that never
took place. Upon discovering the billing
irregularities, the company referred the matter
to the IFB for further investigation. The IFB
identified 38 individuals whose health insurance
information was fraudulently used to bill the
company for hundreds of supposed counseling
Some CAU Team members
sessions that never happened. Working
Back Row, left-to-right: Kelley Mason, Suzanne
together with the Northwestern District Koch, Jamie Foster, Deb Kierstead, Linda Rogers
Attorney’s Office, indictments were obtained and Heather Hubbard. Front row: Caleb Weiner,
against the LICSW, and her license to practice Kellie Beaulieu and Linda Pisano
was suspended. The case remains pending in
the Hampshire Superior Court.

CHILD ABUSE UNIT (CAU)

The mission of the Northwestern District
Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit (CAU) is to
investigate and prosecute child abuse cases in
order to protect and keep children safe. The
CAU team, led by CAU Chief Linda Pisano,
works closely with law enforcement, child
protective services (DCF) staff and the ADA Caleb Weiner
Children’s Advocacy Centers for Hampshire
County and of Franklin County and North

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  10/7/17: Recognizing and
Responding to Child Abuse

CAU TRAININGS ATTENDED:

 03/15/2017: Commercially Sexually
Exploited Children (CSEC)Training
 04/19/17: Victims’ Rights
Conference
 05/2/2017: Annual Massachusetts
Children’s Alliance Conference
CAU Coordinator / Forensic Interviewer  10/08/17: Cultural Competency
Kellie Beaulieu
In 2017 more than 400 new cases came into the
Unit, involving 551 victims and resulted in 204
offenders being charged with child abuse
related offenses. The CAU successfully applied
for a significant increase in the amount of their
Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, which
allowed sufficient funds to hire another full-
time CAU Advocate, part-time forensic
interviewer and substantial funds to send staff
to trainings. Sonia Serrazina, the newest
CAU Paralegal Jamie Foster addition to the CAU, thanks to the additional
VOCA funds, filled the role of Child Abuse
Center Family Service Advocate and part-time
child forensic interviewer. The CAU was also
 In 2017, 407 cases were referred to the CAU fortunate enough to add a paralegal, Jamie
for investigation, involving 551 victims, Foster, to the CAU team in 2016.
which resulted in 204 offenders being
charged with offenses against children.
 201 child victims were interviewed at the Significant Cases Resolved:
Children Advocacy Centers in Hampshire and
Franklin Counties. Commonwealth v. Stanley Michalski (#2):
 148 CAU cases were resolved; 119 of those (Hampshire Superior Court)- This is the second
cases were resolved in the District Courts, 24 of Michalski’s two cases. The first case, which
cases were resolved in the Superior and 5 was tried in December 2016, involved the
cases were resolved in the Juvenile Courts. sexual abuse of two children (ages 7 and 9) over
 204 CAU defendants were arraigned, 15 of a one year time frame while the children lived
whom were in the Superior Court. at his home. In February 2017 the defendant
resolved his case by way of a plea. The second
case involved the sexual abuse of a young child
years earlier. The defendant received 10 – 15
CAU TRAININGS OFFERED BY THE CAU: years in State Prison. Prosecuted by Assistant
 02/02/17: Introduction to the CAC District Attorney Linda Pisano.
Model for Child Abuse Investigations
 6/20/17: Recognizing and Commonwealth v. Derek LeCompt (Franklin
Responding to Child Abuse Superior Court) – The defendant was originally

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charged with dissemination of obscene matter
in connection with his posting sexual images of
a 10-year-old boy. While being held in custody
awaiting trial, LeCompt conspired with another
person to destroy digital evidence connected to
this case. This conspiracy led to additional
charges against the defendant of conspiracy to
tamper with evidence, tampering with evidence
and posing a child in the nude. Subsequent to
this, federal authorities working on an
unrelated child sexual exploitation case, Forensic Interviewer Suzanne Koch
discovered additional pictures of the 10-year-
old boy who was the original victim whose
exploitation was the basis of the original
charge. This information provided a basis for
bringing additional indictments for aggravated
rape and abuse of a child, posing a child in the
nude, and unnatural acts with a child. The
defendant pled guilty to all charges, and
accepted an agreed-upon plea that resulted in a
of 15-20 years in state prison, followed by
probation. Prosecuted by Assistant District Forensic Interviewer & CAC Family Service
Attorney Caleb Weiner. Advocate Sonia Serrazina

The Children’s Advocacy Center The Northwestern District Attorney’s Child

Abuse Unit works collaboratively with The
(“CAC”) for Hampshire County and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) of
Children’s Advocacy Center (“CAC”) Hampshire County and Franklin Counties and
of Franklin and the North Quabbin Region. The CACs are non-
North Quabbin Region profit organizations that provide a child-
friendly, safe place in which law enforcement,
District Attorney personnel, the Department of
Children and Families and medical personnel
can provide a host of services to include:
conducting and observing forensic interviews
with children and providing medical services
and mental health referrals and support to
children who are victims of crimes and their
non-offending family members. Together,
these two advocacy centers provide vital
assistance to the children in Hampshire and
Franklin Counties and the North Quabbin
Region.

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 In 2017, 201 children were served by the
Children’s Advocacy Center for Hampshire
County and the Children’s Advocacy Center
of Franklin County
and North Quabbin Region.

Children’s Advocacy Center

for Hampshire County
Susan Loehn, Executive Director
The goals of the Children’s Advocacy Centers
are: The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) for
Hampshire County, located in Northampton, is
 To minimize the trauma experienced by the non-profit organization which serves all of
children and adolescents who are victims of Hampshire County. In collaboration with the
abuse; Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and the
 To improve the investigation and prosecution Cooley Dickinson Hospital, it provides a child-
of sexual and physical abuse cases from the friendly house where physically and sexually
point of intervention through treatment; abused children and their families can receive
 To promote interagency collaboration and the support and services that they need
effective management in sexual and physical through a coordinated, multi-disciplinary
abuse cases; response.
 To prevent further abuse of victims;
 To provide quality training for professionals In October 2012, following a rigorous review
in the investigation, prosecution and process, the CAC for Hampshire County was
provision of services for sexually and awarded national accreditation by the National
physically abused children and their non- Children’s Alliance.
offending caretakers.

Services Offered by the Children’s Advocacy

Centers include:

 Forensically sound interviews conducted by a

qualified forensic interviewer, as part of a
multi-disciplinary Sexual Assault Intervention
Network (S.A.I.N.) approach;
 Medical intervention;
 Therapeutic intervention;
 Victim and family support services. Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County
and North Quabbin Region
Irene Woods, Executive Director

The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of

Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region,
located in Greenfield, is a non-profit
organization that serves Franklin County and

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the North Quabbin Region. The Greenfield-  CAU held monthly case review meetings in
based CAC is led by Executive Director Irene Hampshire and Franklin Counties involving
Woods. Thanks to its collaboration with NWDA representatives from the Department of
and Baystate Health, it offers the same services Children and Families, medical
that the CAC of Hampshire County provides. professionals, law enforcement and a
mental health professional;
 District Attorney Sullivan and NWDA staff
participated in the Children’s Memorial
Flag-raising and Mayoral Proclamations in
Northampton and Greenfield to
commemorate April as National Child Abuse
Awareness month;
 Comprehensive trainings for mandatory
reporters of child abuse were held at
various locations. The attendees included
teachers, principals, nurses, doctors, mental
health providers and an array of other
“Mandated Reporters.”
CAC Directors Susan Loehn and Irene Woods

Massachusetts Children’s Alliance Director Dr. Stephen Boos and ADA Linda Pisano
Tom King, Irene Woods and DA Sullivan

2017 Highlights for the Child Abuse Unit

and the Children’s Advocacy Centers

 The CAC for Hampshire County sponsored

the 16th Annual Child Abuse Awareness
Month breakfast which was attended by
law enforcement, child advocates, and
community members;
 CAU hosted Northwestern District Child
Fatality Review Team meetings, reviewing NWDA members at the 2017 Kentucky Derby
child deaths and making recommendations fundraiser to benefit the CAC
to the State for improved child safety; for Hampshire County

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 state civil agencies including adult protective
services agencies and human resource agencies,
on joint investigations where there are
allegations of abuse or neglect by caretakers or
others.

The Unit had a transition this year with the

retirement of long time Unit Coordinator Chris
Geffin. Chris was integral to the development
of the Unit as well as the development of our
strong relationships with the many civil
agencies who work with the Unit. The Unit
Mandated Reporter Tranining continues to be led by Assistant District
Attorney Jayme Parent with the addition of a
Child Sexual Predator Task Force new Unit Coordinator, Rachel Senecal.

In 2012, the NWDA formed a Child Sexual Cases are referred to the Unit by the Disabled
Predator Task Force with the help of a Persons Protection Commission (DPPC), adult
Department of Justice COPS Grant. The work of protective service agencies, local and state law
this Task Force continues under the leadership enforcement agencies and private citizens.
of ADA Anne Yereniuk and Massachusetts State
Police Detective Sgt. Tom Bakey.
In 2017, the Elders and Persons with Disabilities
The protection of children has been the core Protection Unit investigated and/or prosecuted
mission of this Task Force which works to hold 153 cases in which elders or persons with
child sexual predators accountable through disabilities were victims.
investigations, prosecutions, probation and
parole home audits.

Members include NWDA prosecutors, Mass.

State Police detectives, United States Marshals
Service, United States Attorney’s Office, local
law enforcement, and state and federal
probation and parole departments.

ELDERS AND PERSONS

WITH DISABILITIES UNIT

The Elders and Persons with Disabilities Unit

(EPDU) investigates and prosecutes crimes in
which elders and persons with disabilities have
been victimized. EPDU also provides education
and training to vulnerable populations and local EPDU Chief ADA Jayme Parent
law enforcement agencies in areas of
prevention and effective investigation of
financial exploitation, physical and sexual abuse
and caretaker neglect. The Unit works with

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 2017 EPDU Case Highlights: Outreach and Education

 Commonwealth v. Joseph Dziadek The EPDU collaborates with counsels on aging,

(Hampshire Superior Court) - The defendant, senior center representatives, media outlets,
a relative of the elder victims, entered their local businesses and organizations, police
homes without their consent. While inside departments, the NWDA Consumer Protection
one of the homes, he stole a bank card and Unit, and the senior population to form
thereafter used the card on numerous community alliances. The goals of the alliances
occasions taking more than $9,000 without are:
the consent of the elder. From the second  Reduce the occurrence of all types of
home, he took car keys which he used to abuse of elders and persons with
steal the elder’s motor vehicle which he used disabilities through education.
to facilitate a robbery in a separate  Raise awareness about common
jurisdiction. The defendant pled guilty to circumstances surrounding criminal
breaking and entering in the daytime with abuse of vulnerable adults.
the intent to commit a felony, larceny over  Ensure that instances of possible abuse
$250 from a person 60 or over, larceny of a are identified, reported, and responded
controlled substance and larceny of a motor to quickly and correctly.
vehicle. He was sentenced to 6 years in state
prison.

 Commonwealth v. Jacob Jarvenpaa (Franklin

Superior Court) - The defendant stole wallets
and pocketbooks and their contents from
multiple elders while they were at local
libraries and, in one case, a business. The
defendant pleaded guilty to larceny from a
person, 65 or over and assault and battery on
a Person, 60 or over and was sentenced to 18
months in the Franklin County House of
Correction followed by 3 years of probation.

Seniors have been instrumental in collecting

unwanted drugs for safe disposal

EPDU and TRIAD Coordinator Rachel Senecal

16 | P a g e
2017 Outreach

Amherst SALT Council member with Amherst

Officers at National Prescription South Hadley officer on Oct. 28 National
Drug Take Back Day Prescription Drug Take Back Day

In 2017, The EPDU collaborated with the NWDA

Consumer Protection Unit and offered various The TRIAD Program
educational programs on elder protection at
senior centers, banks, assisted living facilities, As part of the EPDU, the TRIAD program plays a
and non-profit organizations throughout major role in building community partnerships
Hampshire and Franklin Counties. The in order to better serve seniors. TRIAD is a
programs covered a wide range of topics community policing initiative of seniors, law
including financial exploitation, physical abuse, enforcement and service providers which is
caretaker neglect, signs of abuse, focused on increasing safety through education
offender/victim profiles, avoiding victimization, and crime prevention. Its goals are: to reduce
and proper reporting of suspected abuse. The criminal activity which targets seniors; to
EPDU participated in 5 health and safety fairs alleviate seniors’ fears of victimization, build
and helped organize the October 28, 2017 confidence and improve their quality of life and
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. to enhance the delivery of law enforcement
services to seniors.

TRIAD is anchored by the Northwestern

District’s three top law enforcement officials:
District Attorney David Sullivan, Hampshire
County Sheriff Patrick Cahillane, and Franklin
County Sheriff Christopher Donelan. Rachel
Senecal serves as the NWDA TRIAD
Coordinator.

Retired NWDA members Caroline Smith and

Chris Geffin at the Northampton Senior Center

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 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL
ASSAULT UNIT

TRIAD Activities for 2017:

4 Community Shredding Events: TRIAD groups

in both Hampshire and Franklin Counties held
community shredding events, free of charge,
to seniors in an effort to prevent identify theft.
DVSAU members Richard Aucoin,
Lock Box Program: Many Hampshire/Franklin Katie Rosewarn, Mary Kociela, Samantha
County TRIAD groups participate in the lock box Johnson and ADA Jennifer Suhl
program. A small secure lock box is installed
directly on a senior’s home. The box contains a The Chief of the Domestic Violence & Sexual
spare house key and is accessed by a 4-digit Assault Unit (DVSAU) is ADA Jennifer Suhl. The
code. When an emergency call comes in, the Unit also includes several highly trained and
responding fire fighter or paramedic can open experienced staff members: Mary Kociela,
the lock box and gain quick and safe access to Director of DV Projects; Katie Rosewarne, High
the home to offer assistance. Risk Team Coordinator; Richard Aucoin, DVIP
Coordinator; and Samantha Johnson,
Sand for Seniors: TRIAD groups in Southampton Administrative Assistant.
and Belchertown delivered sand directly to the
homes of seniors. The sand was used to spread The DVSAU is responsible for overseeing the
over slick ice to help prevent life-threatening prosecution of all domestic violence and adult
falls and to increase winter safety for seniors sexual assault cases in the Northwestern
with mobility issues. District. The year 2017 saw some significant
staff changes within the Unit. In June, Karin
Sheehy retired after 20 years of service.

Filling buckets for the Belchertown

Sand for Seniors Project

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 consistent prosecution, continue to result in
successful prosecution of domestic violence and
sexual assault in our district.

 The office handled 1158 domestic

violence cases in 2017: 18 in Superior
Court, 55 in Juvenile Court, and 1085 in
District Court.
 There were 61 adult sexual assault
cases, 30% of which were prosecuted
in the Superior Court.

Karin Sheehy
2017 Superior Court Case Highlights:
Karin had been our "go to" person for years
assisting Unit staff with countless workshops, Commonwealth v. Kevin E. Pardee – In January,
meetings, program statistics, brochures, Pardee pled guilty to eleven charges related to
conferences, billing procedures and grants. a prolonged assault on his then-girlfriend at his
Many had come to rely on her steadfast home in Easthampton and in a vehicle in
knowledge and skill and she will surely be Holyoke during which he held her against her
missed. We were pleased to welcome will, struck her repeatedly, stabbed her in the
Samantha Johnson in October who has taken leg, pointed a gun at her, and threatened to kill
over as our new Administrative Assistant. There her and her family if she called the police.
was also a change in the High Risk Team Pardee was sentenced to 4 to 5 ½ years in state
Coordinator position with Carly Estrela moving prison followed by two years of probation.
to a new position within the DA’s Office. Carly is Prosecuted by ADA Sarah Pascale.
now a Victim Witness Advocate in the Victim
Witness Unit and Katie Rosewarne was Commonwealth v. Jeffrey Laffond – In March,
welcomed as our new High Risk Team Laffond pled guilty to attempted murder by
Coordinator. strangulation and related charges for
repeatedly strangling his wife during an
The majority of domestic violence (DV) cases in argument in their home in Wendell to the point
2017 were handled in the District Courts. In of unconsciousness while simultaneously trying
order to provide comprehensive and consistent to break her neck, in the presence of their 3-
treatment of domestic violence cases at the year-old child. Laffond was sentenced to 5 to 7
District Court level, the District Attorney has years in state prison followed by three years of
designated a specialized domestic violence probation. Prosecuted by ADA Jennifer Suhl.
prosecutor in each of the four district courts:
Joe Webber in Greenfield, Liz Priest in Orange, Commonwealth v. Steven Deblois – In April,
Marie Angers in Northampton and Sarah Deblois pled guilty to stalking in violation of a
Pascale in Belchertown. restraining order, breaking and entering, assault
and battery, and intimidation of a witness. The
The DVSAU collaborates with numerous convictions arose from numerous incidents that
community and law enforcement partners to occurred in the summer of 2015 in Athol and
deliver coordinated, best-practice prosecution Orange during which Deblois stalked and
of all domestic and sexual violence cases. These intimidated his ex-girlfriend and the mother of
collaborations, as well as effective training and

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his children while on release on a GPS Health Commission, The Northampton Recovery
monitoring bracelet from a prior case involving Center and the MA Trial Court Probation
the same parties in Worcester County. Deblois Services.
was sentenced to four years in the House of
Correction to be followed by three years of Task Force members also received information
probation. Prosecuted by ADA Jennifer Suhl. on legislation pertaining to tracking sexual
assault kits, economic security resources for
Commonwealth v. Jason D. Coons – In survivors and consumer and financial tips for
November, Coons pled guilty to two counts of survivors of domestic violence.
aggravated rape, intimidation of a witness, and
conspiracy to commit murder. These A new brochure was created focusing on
convictions arose from conduct that began in violence and abuse in teen dating relationships.
November 2014, when Coons kidnapped and The brochure entitled, “Dating Relationships-A
raped a young female acquaintance at night on Guide for Teens” offers specific information on
a secluded road in South Hadley. While that defining abuse, signs of an unhealthy and
case was pending in court and Coons was held healthy relationship and available local
in jail, he conspired with his wife and another resources. The brochure, along with our other
individual to kill the woman that he had raped domestic violence and sexual assault brochures,
so that she would not be able to testify at trial. is available on our website under the
Coons was sentenced to 15 to 17 years in state prevention-domestic violence tab.
prison. Prosecuted by ADA Jennifer Suhl.
Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP)
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Unit
Initiatives The Domestic Violence Intervention Project
(DVIP) is funded through a Massachusetts
The number one goal of the DVSAU is to Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
provide best practice intervention strategies, in S.T.O.P. Grant. The DVIP is an early
collaboration with our community and law intervention program for victims of DV designed
enforcement partners, aimed at holding to coordinate the efforts of police and
offenders accountable and keeping victims safe. community advocates. Specially trained
The Unit coordinates numerous prevention and advocates from local battered women's
intervention initiatives designed to meet this programs, NELCWIT & Safe Passage, are
goal. immediately available following a domestic
violence incident. Police departments, in
District Attorney’s Task Force on Domestic and Franklin and Hampshire Counties and the Town
Sexual Violence of Athol, contact an on-call advocate who in
turn contacts the victim. Advocates offer
The District Attorney’s Task Force on Domestic victims immediate support, safety information
and Sexual Violence is comprised of members and referrals for counseling, shelter and/or legal
representing law enforcement, victim services advocacy.
and community programs. The Task Force
meets monthly and offers training and DVIP Partnership meetings are held twice per
networking opportunities for people working to year for police, dispatchers, advocates and all
end domestic and sexual violence. In 2017, project partners. A highlight of 2017 was a
meetings included current information and presentation by UMass Associate Professor,
training on many topics with presenters from Donna Sabella, who provided training on
Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle Intertribal Coalition, the “Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking.”
Start Strong Initiative through the Boston Public The presentation included how to recognize

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signs of human trafficking and a review of Probation Departments, Houses of Correction,
available local resources. Parole Board, Police Departments, 911
dispatchers, District Attorney’s office,
A DV law enforcement newsletter was also Department of Children and Families and
published and distributed to law enforcement community victim advocates. Once an offender
and first responders in May and June. Articles is identified as high risk, detailed information
included information on non-fatal strangulation, regarding that offender, as well as his/her
how utilizing the strangulation worksheet can victim(s), is distributed to all partners to ensure
positively affect prosecution and help victims, a coordinated, comprehensive, and consistent
the Governor’s Task Force risk assessment pilot response to any future incidents involving the
program and human trafficking. The newsletter offender.
also features an “Advocate Spotlight’ to help
familiarize officers with DVIP Advocates. Prior to 2010, when the HRT Project first began,
there were 15 DV homicides over a 12 year
The year 2017 was an open bid year for funding period. Even in the early stages of the project
under the Violence Against Women S.T.O.P. there were five more homicides, three in 2010
Grant Program. The Northwestern District and two in 2012. However, the district has now
Attorney’s Office was awarded full funding to seen a decline with zero DV homicides over a
continue the DVIP for another year, with the five year period from June 2102-June 2017. We
option to re-apply for three additional years. attribute this decline, in part, to the success of
The funds will allow us to reinstate evening the high risk team model and the increased
visits by DVIP Advocates to police departments. monitoring and containment of high risk
This provides a great opportunity for advocates offenders.
to meet patrol officers face to face and to build
a stronger understanding of the advocate’s role. In 2017, the High Risk Project continued to build
The grant also includes funds to update police on the lessons learned at the non-fatal
DV Charging Booklets originally distributed in strangulation conference held in September
2006. Updated booklets will be electronic and 2016. The strangulation worksheet for police
will incorporate the “Act Relative to Domestic officers was expanded and improved to include
Violence” signed into law in 2014. questions recommended by our national
trainers. In addition, two new risk assessment
tools, one focused on offender behavior and
Domestic Violence High Risk Team Project one for victims, were created and distributed to
all project partners and police report writing
High risk teams in each county were established pocket cards were updated to include
in 2010 in an effort to reduce domestic violence information on strangulation and referral to the
homicides and to identify the most serious, high risk team.
repeat offenders. Evidence-based research has
identified a set standard of high risk behaviors An application was submitted to renew funding
that can substantially increase the level of risk of the High Risk Team Project. The office was
for victims. By identifying high risk behaviors awarded the full amount allowed of $450,000
and sharing case information, the teams make over three years to continue the project. The
recommendations to maximize offender funds will allow us to reinstate the Coordinator
accountability and safety for victims. The position to full time, increase support and
purpose of the project is to identify and closely follow-up for victims of strangulation and
monitor high risk offenders in order to prevent provide training for EMS responders and
further incidents of abuse and homicide. Teams dispatchers.
are comprised of representatives from

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District Attorney Sullivan is a member of the
Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault
and Domestic Violence. The council has been
actively involved in the development of a
statewide risk assessment tool for police
officers and the creation of a statewide model
for high risk teams. The Greenfield Police
Department was selected as one of five pilot
departments to utilize the risk assessment tool
and give feedback to the Governor’s Council. In
April, Mary Kociela and Greenfield Police
Deputy Chief Mark Williams trained officers
from the five pilot police departments at the
MA Police Training Academy on risk assessment
in DV cases, use of the new assessment tool and
non-fatal strangulation.

In October 2017, the DVSAU was recognized by

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito for our
DVIP and High Risk Team programs. We were
invited to a meeting at the statehouse, held in
Governor Baker’s office, to present our DV
model and discuss how it might be DVIP and High Risk Projects Receive Statewide
implemented statewide in relation to the new Recognition by Governor Baker and Lt.
risk assessment pilot. The meeting was Governor Polito
attended by DA Sullivan and Mary Kociela from
the DA’s office, Police Chief Robert Haigh,
Deputy Chief Mark Williams of the Greenfield DVSAU Community Outreach and Education
Police Department and Anthia Elliott from Safe
Passage. In addition to having our programs Each year, the DVSAU sponsors and participates
recognized, the state has also adopted our in various training and outreach programs. In
strangulation worksheet and has distributed it 2017, this included programs for middle school
to all police departments in the state. and high school students, first responders and
police officers. The Unit provided training for
community advocates and social workers on DV
response and risk assessment and non-fatal
strangulation. Staff also worked with the Mayor
of Greenfield’s DV Task Force and the Franklin
County Child Advocacy Center to coordinate
flag raising events commemorating April as
Child Abuse Awareness Month.

DA Sullivan and NWDA members at Take Back

the Night, held in Athol and Orange

22 | P a g e
White Ribbon Campaign campaigns at Belchertown, Gateway,
Northampton and Ware High Schools.
The White Ribbon Campaign
(WRC) was founded and
launched in Canada, two years
after the Montréal Massacre
in which 14 women students
at the École Polytechnique were systematically
killed, and 13 other students wounded, by a
lone gunman on December 6, 1989. Some
100,000 men wore white ribbons across Canada
that first year. Today, the WRC is a worldwide
campaign in 60 countries and growing.

White Ribbon Pledge

From this day forward I pledge to be part of the
solution in ending gender based violence and to
never commit, condone or remain silent about
violence against women and girls.

In 2017, the DA’s Task Force organized the 10th

Annual White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) to
involve men in the movement to end violence
against women. An estimated 1500 students
and community members took the pledge in
local high schools and at several community
events throughout the year including
NELCWIT’s Power of Women event with DA
Sullivan and public officials leading attendees in
taking the pledge. Sexual Assault Prevention Media Campaign

The campaign’s online art exhibit continued to

offer opportunities for students to post
photographs and art work related to the
campaign on a Tumblr page: WRC tumblr
page. Events included a food drive and
fundraiser to benefit Safe Passage, student role
The sexual assault media campaign originally
plays, video discussions and writing prompts
started in 2012 with funding from an Edward
about healthy relationships.
Byrne Memorial Justice Grant. Then, in 2016,
with funds acquired by the Five College
In 2017 we also continued the opportunity for
Consortium, a new PSA was created focusing on
students to apply to become a Student White
sexual assault in the LGBQ/T community. Over
Ribbon Ambassador. Student ambassadors are
fifty students representing LGBQ/T student
students who recognize the importance of
focus groups on the local five college campuses
taking responsibility and playing a leadership
and Greenfield Community College (GCC),
role in preventing violence against women.
reviewed the script and gave feedback and
Student ambassadors successfully led
ideas for improvements. Each college media

23 | P a g e
department received the posters in a format Victim/Survivor Advocates. The SART reviews
allowing them to add their own logo and best practice models in responding to sexual
messaging. The new posters and PSA are now assault that are victim centered and increase
available on our website and Facebook page. In the chances of effective prosecution. SART
2017, the PSA and posters were distributed to members share these models within their own
LGBQ/T student groups on the five college department and develop and implement cross
campuses and GCC. The response was very training opportunities. The team meets
positive, with the PSA and posters being utilized monthly at the District Attorney’s Office.
as training tools for dormitory Resident
Assistant’s and student peer leaders. In 2017, the SART worked on educating the
team and our local agencies on a number of
developments and initiatives regarding the
system’s response to sexual assault. These
included newly developed Adult Sexual Assault
Law Enforcement Guidelines published by the
Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Public
Safety and Security, a change in the law
regarding retention of sexual assault evidence
collection kits to mirror the applicable statute of
limitations, a proposed sexual assault victim’s
bill of rights in the legislature, and changes
made by the United States Secretary of
Education to Title IX regulations relating to
colleges and universities responses to sexual
assault cases on campuses.

Additionally, the team reviewed and analyzed

demographical data created by the Department
of Public Health for Hampshire County
regarding sexual assault evidence collection kits
to identify trends in our area, and conducted
outreach with our area police departments on
the availability of CWC advocates around the
clock to assist sexual assault survivors making
reports to the police. The SART was also
honored to serve as a model for another
community near Boston which was in the
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) process of beginning their own SART and
looking for ways to be successful.
The SART is a coordinated, multi-disciplinary
team of people, including Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault Unit Chief Jennifer Suhl and
Victim-Witness Unit Chief Jackie Gaw, who
respond to sexual assaults. The Center for
Women & Community (CWC) coordinates the
SART, which includes representatives of Law
Enforcement, Health Care, Forensic Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiners, Prosecutors, and

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 NWDA staff members in Northampton
Appellate Chief Thomas Townsend welcomes
APPELLATE UNIT appellate prosecutors to Northampton

The Appellate Unit is comprised of ADAs In October, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial
Thomas Townsend (Chief), Cynthia Von Flatern, Court conducted a special sitting in Greenfield,
and Steven Greenbaum. The three members of the first time the court has sat there since 1999.
the Appellate Unit represent the NWDA before The NWDA had three cases on the docket.
the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and
the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

When a defendant is convicted of a crime, he or

she may challenge that conviction by filing a
legal brief outlining any alleged errors that may
have occurred at trial. Upon receipt of the
defendant’s brief, an appellate prosecutor is
assigned to respond with an opposing brief and
then to argue the merits of the appeal before a
panel of judges in Boston.
Appellate ADA Cynthia Von Flatern argues
The Appellate Unit also responds to motions for
before the SJC in a special sitting in Greenfield
a new trial and supports all ADAs through legal
updates and advice. ADA Steven Greenbaum announced his
retirement from full-time employment after
In addition, the Appellate Unit oversees parole two decades of distinguished legal service with
hearings for those serving life sentences but the Commonwealth. He will remain with the
who are eligible for parole. office on a part-time basis.

Highlights from 2017:

In June, the Appellate Unit hosted a meeting of

the Commonwealth Attorneys Appellate Action
Project (CAAAP), a statewide group of appellate
prosecutors.

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 The NWDA Appellate Unit is the most
experienced Appeals Unit in the
Commonwealth. Each member has at least 20
years of experience in appellate prosecution.

There were 28 new cases entered in the

Massachusetts Appeals Court in 2017, most of
which will be briefed and argued this year.

The NWDA also has several cases pending in the

Appellate ADA Steven Greenbaum
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,
including three 1st-degree murder convictions.
Notable appellate decisions from 2017
In 2017, the NWDA responded to 24 motions
Commonwealth v. Enez Kolenovic, in
for a new trial, a sharp increase over 2016.
which the Supreme Judicial Court
affirmed the defendant’s 1st-degree
murder conviction in the 1996 stabbing SEXUALLY DANGEROUS PERSONS
death of David Walker. UNIT
Commonwealth v. Justin King, in which The Sexually Dangerous Person (SDP) Unit is
the Appeals Court affirmed the responsible for reviewing cases in which an
aggravated rape convictions of the individual who has been convicted of a sexual
defendant for his role in a gang rape of offense is due to be released from
a first-year student at UMass. incarceration. The purpose of the review is to
determine whether or not the individual meets
Commonwealth v. Jesse Carrillo, in the criteria for civil commitment as a Sexually
which the Appeals Court refused to stay Dangerous Person, as outlined in the statute,
the sentence of a defendant who G.L. c. 123A. If those criteria are met, a petition
received a manslaughter conviction for for commitment is filed and a trial is conducted
providing heroin to a UMass student to decide whether that person will be
who overdosed on the drug. committed. Two seasoned prosecutors, Jayme
Parent and Steve Greenbaum, handle all of the
SDP cases for the Office. Sue Snyder and Luisa
Cruz support the Unit as SDP Coordinators.

SDP Cases handled in 2017

In Fiscal Year 2017, the Northwestern District
Attorney’s Office reviewed the histories of 46
inmates who were due for release. The Office
determined that 27 did not meet the criteria for
SDP commitment; the remaining 19 were sent
ADAs Thomas Townsend and Cindy to experts for review. After review by the
Von Flatern at a hearing of the SJC at experts, all of these inmates were determined
the Franklin Justice Center to have not met the criteria of the SDP statute.

26 | P a g e
Therefore, no SDP petitions for commitment (Greenfield District Court). In addition,
were filed in 2017. In 2017, a petition filed in experienced ADAs in each of these courts are
2016 was tried. The Respondent was found SDP designated as "Domestic Violence" (DV)
by a Jury and was committed to DOC for 1 day prosecutors and/or as Child Abuse (CAU)
to life. One case (Petition filed in 2015) is prosecutors.
scheduled for trial in January 2018.
There were several staff-related changes in
2017. The former Chief of the District Court
Unit, Rosemary Tarantino retired. ADA Michael
DISTRICT COURT Russo was selected to take her place as Chief.
ADA Becky Michaels accepted a new position
The District Court serves as the gateway to the with the Attorney General’s Office. ADA Ryan
criminal justice system. The vast majority of Scott joined the Orange District Court staff as a
criminal cases are prosecuted there. The District new hire.
Courts in the Northwestern District are located
in Northampton, Belchertown, Greenfield and Assistant District Attorneys in the 4 District
Orange. These courts have jurisdiction over all Courts handled 15,421 cases in 2017. Some
misdemeanors, including drug offenses, public 6,195 were new arraignments.
order offenses and motor vehicle offenses. The
District Courts also have jurisdiction over those
felonies that are punishable by imprisonment in
the state prison for not more than 5 years,
which include, but are not limited to, certain
weapon-related offenses and property crimes.

District Court ADA Ryan Scott

NWDA Training Committee

The Training Committee hosted twenty two

trainings for staff members on a variety of
District Court Unit Chief Mike Russo topics including strangulation, marijuana
dispensaries, and cell phone technology. The
Mike Russo is the Chief of the District Court office also launched a new partnership with the
Unit. He supervises the ten ADAs who are Western New England University School of
assigned to the four District Courts. Law’s Criminal Law Clinic by hosting two law
school student interns. Under Massachusetts
A senior ADA is designated as the "Attorney in Student Practice Rule 3:03 these students were
Charge” (AIC) in each of the four District Courts. able to develop their skills by handling
The AICs are: Marie Angers (Northampton arraignments, motions to suppress and trials.
District Court); Matthew Russo (Eastern
Hampshire District Court); Elizabeth Priest
(Orange District Court); and Joseph Webber

27 | P a g e
 In 2017, the Juvenile Unit handled 258
delinquency cases in Hampshire County, out of
both the Hadley and Belchertown Juvenile
sessions. In Franklin County and the Town of
Athol, the Juvenile Unit handled 124
delinquency cases out of the Greenfield and
Orange Juvenile Courts.

The types of delinquency cases prosecuted by

the Juvenile Unit in 2017 ranged from lower
level offenses such as disorderly conduct up to
WNEU 3:03 Certified Legal Interns Jacob extremely serious cases involving sexual assault
Winniman and Alexa Pascucci and armed robbery.

JUVENILE JUSTICE For serious crimes, the District Attorney can

elect to prosecute a juvenile as a Youthful
The Juvenile Justice Unit aims to reduce youth Offender which allows a judge to sentence the
violence and crime through the use of a individual as a juvenile or as an adult. In order
coordinated community approach that includes for a juvenile case to be prosecuted as a
early intervention and prevention. The Juvenile Youthful Offender, the case must be presented
Court has jurisdiction over delinquency matters; to a Grand Jury for indictment. If an indictment
youthful offenders; and the adult criminal is returned, the case proceeds in Juvenile Court.
complaints of contributing to the delinquency
of a minor and failure to send a child to school.
With the exception of Youthful Offender cases,
juvenile court proceedings are closed to the
public.

Following the retirement of Yvonne Pesce as

Chief of the Juvenile Unit in December, 2017,
ADA Liz Mulcahy was appointed by the District
Attorney to head the Unit. In addition to her
new role as Chief, Liz will continue to serve as
the Program Coordinator for the Unit’s Juvenile
Diversion Program. ADA Caitlyn Rock is
responsible for handling all juvenile matters in ADA Caitlyn Rock and Juvenile Justice Unit
Franklin County. ADA Bruce Patryn joined the Chief Liz Mulcahy at the 2017 Youth
Juvenile Justice Unit in November, 2017 and will Conference
serve as a senior litigation counsel. Two victim
witness advocates, Janice Francis and Heather Many of the delinquency cases, in both
Darling, as well as Administrative Assistant Luisa counties, required additional investigative
Cruz, are also assigned to the Juvenile Justice assistance, which involves collaboration
Unit. between the juvenile prosecutors, school
administrators, local law enforcement and State
The Unit handles cases in the four juvenile Police detectives.
courts located in Hampshire and Franklin
counties. In addition, as needed, the Juvenile
Unit prosecutes cases in Superior Court and
District Court.

28 | P a g e
 schools in their response to bullying and
harassing behavior targeting students and to
serve as a resource to schools, parents, and
victims.

Members of the Safe Schools Response Team

include Deputy District Attorney Janice Healy,
Juvenile Justice Unit Chief Liz Mulcahy, Assistant
District Attorneys Caitlyn Rock and Bruce
Patryn, and Administrative Assistant Sue
Snyder.
Juvenile Justice ADA Bruce Patryn
Juvenile Justice Unit Outreach and
Education

During 2017, the Juvenile Justice Unit

collaborated with the NWDA’s Community
Outreach & Education Unit and community
partners on the development of numerous
conferences and outreach programs aimed at
youth, parents, and school personnel.

Juvenile Diversion Program

Students attending 2017 Youth Conference
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office's
Juvenile Diversion Program (NWD-JDP) offers an
alternative to formal prosecution in the juvenile
court to certain eligible offenders under the age
of 18. Utilizing a pre-arraignment model, the
diversion program is designed to protect
participating youth from having a juvenile
record. Juveniles’ diversion plans may include
counseling and educational programs,
community service and, when applicable, the
payment of restitution. An important goal of
the NWDA-JDP is to address the underlying
2017 Youth Conference causes of juvenile delinquency in order to
enable the juvenile to be held accountable
while at the same time addressing his or her
Safe Schools Response Team
individual needs.
District Attorney Sullivan established a Safe
Community-Based Justice Meetings
Schools Response Team (SSRT) to enable the
Northwestern District Attorney's Office to
The Community Based Justice Program (CBJ) is a
promptly review and respond to complaints and
statutorily mandated school-based initiative
referrals involving threats, harassment, bullying,
designed to establish and coordinate a
and civil rights violations occurring in schools.
partnership between schools, police, and state
Additional goals of the SSRT are to assist local

29 | P a g e
agencies to address school violence and
violence prevention. CBJ meetings are
convened regularly by a Juvenile Unit ADA in
each county throughout the school year and
provide a forum to share information regarding
violent and at-risk youth, as well as individual
students whose conduct has raised concerns
about their health, safety or well-being. These
meetings also serve to provide a means to build
relationships and foster communication
between the NWDA, local law enforcement
agencies, schools, and state service agencies. Victim Witness Unit Director Jackie Gaw

VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE UNIT

 In Hampshire County, our advocates
were assigned to 1,127 cases.
 They assisted 1,392 victims, 916
witnesses and 2 family members.
 In Franklin County, our advocates were
assigned to 829 cases.
 They assisted 978 victims, 482
witnesses and 8 family members.

Our Victim Witness Advocates Advocates from both counties assisted

prosecutors with open investigations regarding
The purpose of the Victim/Witness Assistance reported sexual assaults and motor vehicle
Unit within the Northwestern District Attorney’s crashes that resulted in death. In these
Office is to provide information, support and instances, the advocates provided much needed
advocacy services for victims, witnesses and information and guidance to a victim or family
survivors throughout the criminal justice member about their rights and services
process by ensuring the delivery of mandated available to them such as Victim Compensation.
rights enumerated in M.G.L Chapter 258B. The Also, referrals were made to outside agencies
advocates work with the Assistant District where appropriate, such as the Center for
Attorneys throughout the case in an effort to Women and Community, the Drunk Driving
provide the best teamwork approach to a Trust Fund program, the Center for Community
successful resolution of their cases. The Resilience after Trauma (formerly the
advocates strive to prevent secondary Community Crisis Response Team) and the
victimization within the court system by trying Homicide Bereavement Program.
to ensure a victim’s safety and to make sure
each victim has a voice in the process. Over the course of 2017, our staff filed 235
approved applications to the Victim Notification
Registry for either Offender Release
Information or CORI certification for access to
documents and offender Board of Probation

30 | P a g e
records. This is an 8% increase from 2016. focused on their journey through the Criminal
Statewide, in comparison with other larger, Justice System and the positive and negative
more urban District Attorney’s Offices, the aspects of their experiences.
NWDA Victim/Witness Assistance Unit is highly
competitive in total accepted applications. This In addition, advocates attended two Domestic
reflects not only the success in prosecutions Violence related trainings. One was sponsored
and incarceration of offenders for victim- by the Secretary of State’s Office and focused
centered crimes, but also reveals the attention on the Address Confidentiality program. The
of the advocates to providing post- conviction second was a view from the bench in which
services to victims, witnesses and family several local judges discussed their experiences
members. and viewpoints on DV matters that they see
before them. They spoke to what factors they
take into account as to lethality and risk
assessment in the decisions they have to make.

Lastly, Carly Estrela was a member of the MOVA

New Advocate Training class in the spring of
2017. This 3 day training is designed for
advocates with less than 2 years of experience
to give them a broad base of exposure to all
aspects of their statutory obligations and the
realities of advocate work.
Victim Witness Advocate Janice Francis and
The Director of the Victim/Witness Program
Executive Assistant Sue Snyder at the 2017
participated in this New Advocate training as a
Safe & Healthy School Summit
member of the Roundtable discussion. This
exercise brought together attendees and
seasoned advocates in small groups to discuss
Training and Outreach
the everyday realities and challenges they will
face as advocates.
In 2017, our advocates participated in and
attended a number of professional
The Director also presented at the
development opportunities. Our juvenile court
Massachusetts Trial Court Academy. This
based advocates attended several conferences
consisted of speaking to the class of Court
and trainings devoted to the youth of our area.
Officer candidates about Victim Rights and the
These gatherings all focused on the themes of
Safe and Secure Waiting Areas in each
respect, civility and being a leader in your
courthouse.
community.

Other advocates attended specialized trainings

aimed at the vulnerable disabled population,
and a second one which focused on the
Attorney General’s Office’s efforts to combat
human trafficking.

Victim Advocates also took part in a MOVA

sponsored presentation from a homicide
survivor and his family. This presentation

31 | P a g e
 CONSUMER PROTECTION UNIT

Consumer Specialist Anita Wilson hosting Director Janice Garrett speaking

computerized Financial Literacy game at at a Senior Center
Greenfield Community College

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has

been home to a local consumer protection
program since 1973. The Consumer Protection
Unit’s Director, Janice Garrett and Case
Coordinator, Anita Wilson, are trained to work
to resolve consumer complaints through an
informal process and also provide resources
and referrals to the public. Caroline Smith, a
longtime member of the Unit, retired in 2017.
The Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) delivers
education and outreach programs throughout
both counties, giving consumers the
information they need to make informed
decisions and protect themselves against scams
and fraud.
Anita Wilson at a TRIAD Picnic
The CPU works in cooperation with the
Attorney General’s Office (AGO). We are one of 2017 CPU Highlights
17 programs throughout the state which
receives a grant from the AGO to provide a local CPU focused much of our outreach in 2017 on
consumer program. In addition to the coverage Financial Literacy. We participated in the
area of Hampshire and Franklin Counties, the Greenfield Community College Reality Fair for
over 400 high school students from various
Consumer Protection Unit’s coverage area
includes 17 Worcester County communities. communities; 32% come from low-income
The CPU provides needed consumer protection families. This 2 day, 4-hour event was a
thoroughly interactive, hands-on experience in
services to all of our communities.
the basics of budgeting. Our goal was to teach
students to maintain a budget while developing
practical money management habits.

32 | P a g e
CPU developed a computerized game board to The Consumer Protection Unit is a member of
teach Financial Literacy to high school students. the Hampshire and Franklin County Money
Our “Financial Literacy Throw Down” game Management Advisory Boards. CPU staff
contained questions in 4 categories: Credit members regularly participate in professional
Reporting, Building Credit, Student Loans and development in order to enhance the Unit’s
Financial Aid Myths. Our goal was to teach expertise and ability to help consumers. We are
students about financial literacy in a fun, a member of the Consumer Federation of
competitive, pressure free situation. The game America, an association of non-profit consumer
has been adapted for seniors and scouting organizations to advance the consumer interest
groups. through research, advocacy, and education.

The Unit has reached out to consumers who In 2017, the Consumer Protection Unit received
have been homeless, recovering from addiction 1,486 calls, opened 367 cases and recovered
or have been incarcerated. We have given $181,868 for consumers. In the past 5 years,
presentations on how to protect your financial CPU has recovered $1,500,285.
future when there is substance abuse in your
family and participated in several sessions at
the Franklin County House of Correction on
financial literacy. In an effort to continue
supporting our underserved and vulnerable
populations, the CPU spoke with the NWDA’s
task force on domestic and sexual violence
about how we may be able to help victims as
they work to rebuild their lives.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND

EDUCATION

The Community Outreach and Education Unit

worked with schools and community groups
this year on initiatives aimed at preventing
some of the root causes of crime: substance
The CPU has done numerous presentations misuse, the effects of stigma and
about the Equifax Data breach and how misunderstanding and adverse childhood
consumers can protect themselves against experiences. We were also at the table for
identity theft as well as presentations on scams. collaborations that seek to introduce more
For the second year, our Consumer Protection trauma-informed approaches in a variety of
Unit produced a 2018 calendar with monthly settings that help mitigate those experiences.
consumer protection tips. They were given out We worked with the SPIFFY and Hampshire
to all Hampshire and Franklin County senior HOPE coalitions and the Amherst Cinema in
centers. presenting a screening of the film “Resilience.”

33 | P a g e
The documentary chronicles the medical studies
that make the scientific link between early
trauma and negative health outcomes later in
life and also looks at initiatives that tap into the
innate resilience of human beings.

Citizen Advisory Board (CAB)

Our Citizens Advisory Board, which draws from

residents and professionals from around our
region, continued to serve as a sounding board
for the District Attorney. CAB members also
served as ambassadors for the office by learning
about NWDA initiatives and sharing information
about them within their communities. Among
the projects CAB members heard about this
year were the Northampton Recovery Center
and the Fair and Impartial Policing Training
offered to police personnel from departments
throughout our region. In all of these outreach
efforts, the NWDA is committed to working
with the people who live and work in our
regions by focusing on civic engagement and
building long-lasting relationships that promote
We supported community efforts to combat the
a just and safe community for all.
role stigma plays in erecting barriers to
intervention and treatment for people who
struggle with drug misuse disorders. We waged
Law Day 2017
our annual drug collection efforts to get drugs
safely disposed of so they won’t be misused.
We promoted harm reduction efforts that are
the cornerstone of compassionate approaches
to addiction disorders. And we continued a
steadfast collaboration with more than a dozen
prevention coalitions, task forces and
committees on projects whose purpose is to
address social problems that lead to unhealthy
communities.

Defense Attorney Alan Rubin and ADA Matt

Thomas present on the 14th Amendment at
South Hadley High School

34 | P a g e
The 14th Amendment: Transforming American As schools do not exist in a vacuum, it falls to
Democracy was the theme for our 2017 Law the entire community to help ensure students
Day projects. The NWDA teamed up with bar learn in an environment where they feel safe
associations in Hampshire and Franklin counties and valued. Presenters at the Summit included
to offer educational presentations in area high attorney Michael Joyce, who discussed the legal
schools and a panel discussion at the Franklin framework for ensuring safe and supportive
Justice Center on the 14th Amendment and its school environments and Dr. Sara Whitcomb,
guarantee of citizenship, due process and equal who talked about social and emotional issues
protection under the law. These sessions and how to develop strategies for a whole
focused on how that important addition to our school approach. NWDA wants to support
U.S. Constitution advanced the rights of schools in their efforts to build a solid
Americans while serving as a cornerstone for foundation based on dignity and respect for all.
landmark civil rights legislation and court
decisions that seek to protect citizens by
ensuring fairness and equality.

DA Sullivan with Not in Our Town members

CIVIL RIGHTS REVIEW TEAM

PVPA students in a scene from a student video The protection of citizens’ civil rights is a core
illustrating 14th Amendment issues mission for the Northwestern District Attorney’s
Office. District Attorney Sullivan created the
Civil Rights Review Team to review and
6th Annual Safe School Summit respond to alleged hate crimes and hate
incidents in our communities, as well as civil
In the fall, educators from around the district rights complaints and referrals. Team members
joined us for the 6th Annual Safe and Healthy include Deputy District Attorney Janice Healy,
School Summit, this year titled Promoting District Court Chief Mike Russo, Juvenile Justice
Respect, Civility and Dignity. In arriving at Unit Chief Liz Mulcahy and Director of
topics for this annual summit, NWDA staff took Community Education and Outreach Laurie
cues from the many people we work with in the Loisel. Having this team in place has allowed
community, especially our school communities. the NWDA to respond in a prompt and effective
School climate is always an important topic, way to civil rights incidents, complaints,
because a healthy school climate is vital to referrals, and community inquiries.
learning and growing, but we began hearing
from school leaders concerned that school
climates seemed to be taking a turn for the
worse.

35 | P a g e
ADAs Matthew Russo and Andrew Covington,
2017 Amherst Block Party
Mary Carey and Laurie Loisel at the 2017
Amherst Block Party

COMMUNICATONS UNIT
The Communications Unit is vital in keeping the
Northwestern District Attorney’s Office
accessible and responsive to the public and
media. The Communications Unit is led by
Mary Carey, who coordinates with prosecutors,
staff, and law enforcement to get information
to the public in a timely, accurate and ethically
sound way. NWDA Staff at Franklin Justice Center
Grand Opening
In 2017, the Communications Unit continued to
enhance the Northwestern District Attorney’s
Office website and Facebook pages, which
provide up-to-date information to the public on INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNIT
cases being prosecuted by the NWDA, as well as
access to information about the work of all of The Information Technology (IT) Unit works in a
our units and community partners. critical behind-the-scenes role to support the
work of all Units within the NWDA. IT Director
The Communications Unit also worked closely Bruce Fieldman and IT System Support Engineer
with all of the NWDA Units to plan, promote Nathan Foote are charged with procuring,
and document in print, photos and video a wide installing, developing and supporting
range of events, trainings and educational information technology hardware, software and
programs. applications for all of our offices in both
Hampshire and Franklin counties. The IT Unit
also actively assists our prosecutors with
courtroom presentations and educational
productions.

IT Unit's 2017 Accomplishments

In 2017, the IT Unit continued ongoing efforts

to improve the technical infrastructure and IT
practices of the NWDA to ensure continued

36 | P a g e
smooth, efficient and secure operations. New County Justice Center, and worked closely with
computer workstations, laptops, printers and the administration to develop technical
other equipment were purchased and requirements for the new NWDA Greenfield
deployed. New software and software upgrades office to be occupied in 2018.
were acquired. All NWDA workstations were
upgraded to the latest version of the Windows Supporting prosecutors in the preparation and
operating system, and new procedures were presentation of cases in the courtroom
put in place to accommodate Microsoft’s new continues to be a major focus of the IT Unit. IT
approaches to ongoing OS maintenance. New staff works closely with prosecutors to prepare
encryption methods were deployed to protect multimedia courtroom presentations, and
information on NWDA laptops. assists them in working with case management
data. Assistance was provided for numerous
Working closely with the Massachusetts District remote depositions. IT played a major role
Attorney’s Association (“MDAA”), the IT Unit assisting the NWDA in querying its case
oversaw the installation of expanded server management system to identify Amherst Drug
capacity in both the Hampshire and Franklin Lab cases for review. The IT Unit also continued
County main offices. These upgrades included to provide technical assistance in court, and
the installation of two new virtual server hosts assisted prosecutors in the utilization of the
that will provide space to run larger and faster new modern multimedia systems deployed in
servers for years to come, and a new server the new Franklin County building.
providing significantly increased capacity for
storage of the NWDA’s growing digital case file With the IT Unit’s support, the NWDA
system. continued to improve its ability to extract
evidence from seized mobile devices and
Communications were improved in 2017 with computers. The IT Unit upgraded the NWDA’s
the migration of the NWDA to a new Digital Evidence Center’s equipment, including
Commonwealth of Massachusetts email server an expansion of its NAS’s storage capacity, and
platform. The IT Unit also worked closely with the purchase and deployment of a powerful
the MDAA to deploy a new cloud-based system new workstation tower computer.
to provide secure document transmission to
and from outside agencies, which also provides
a secure and efficient method of transmission
of discovery documents to defense attorneys.
The IT Unit continued to oversee the NWDA
website, NorthwesternDA.org, and work with
the Communications Director to update the site
to provide the community with current
information on NWDA operations and events.

The IT Unit continued to develop tools to

increase the efficiency of day- to-day staff
activities, working with various units to IT Director Bruce Fieldman and IT System
continue upgrading NWDA databases to Support Engineer Nathan Foote
improve storage and access to data, and
improved reporting capabilities.

The IT Unit played a critical role setting up the

NWDA office in the newly opened Franklin

37 | P a g e
MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci lead the
Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force
DETECTIVE AND NARCOTICS UNIT which has an additional 10 officers from local
police departments and the Hampshire and
Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices. These officers
investigate illegal narcotics offenses, firearms
offenses, and other organized criminal
activities.

In 2017 the Task Force conducted 79

investigations including one of the largest
opioid trafficking cases in the history of Franklin
County.

Major drug trafficking, weapons cases, and

The Hampshire/Franklin State Police Detective theft rings have been investigated and indicted
Unit (SPDU) is comprised of 14 officers from in Superior Court as a result of these joint law
the Massachusetts State Police with Detective enforcement efforts. This Task Force is making a
Lieutenant Jeffrey Cahill as the SPDU significant impact on major crime and the
Commander, and Lieutenant Joseph Ballou as quality of life in our communities.
the Executive Officer. The SPDU is responsible
for investigating homicides, major felonies,
digital crimes, and special investigations.
ONGOING INITIATIVES AND
In 2017 the SPDU handled 581 cases,
PROJECTS
investigated one homicide, and 281 unattended
deaths. The SPDU investigates all unattended
deaths in Hampshire and Franklin Counties and
the Town of Athol.

DA Sullivan, Judge Laurie McLeod

and Martie Murphy Kane

The Veterans Justice Partnership

MSP State Troopers assigned to the NWDA The Veterans Justice Partnership (VJP) was
founded in 2011 by District Attorney David
Sergeant Christopher Baran from the Sullivan and other community leaders. VJP’s
Massachusetts State Police and NWDA Chief mission is to help court-involved and

38 | P a g e
incarcerated veterans. VJP is a collaboration of one of the best Veterans guidebooks in the
the Office of Northwestern District Attorney, United States.
veteran’s organizations, mental health
providers, local, state and federal veteran
agencies, and numerous criminal justice and
community partners.

The VJP served 221 veterans in 2017.

 154 Vets worked with both

the Veterans Administration
and Veterans Affairs.
 67 worked with Soldier On

VJP is working to help veterans before and after

case disposition. A Department of Mental
Health initiative, Mission Direct Vet, is working
collaboratively with VJP to help veterans get the
necessary mental health services to address and
prevent criminal conduct. For incarcerated
veterans, VJP has the benefit of the direct
involvement of Sheriffs Patrick Cahillane
(Hampshire), Chris Donelan (Franklin), and
Michael Ashe (Hampden) to help with both
treatment and re-entry options.

VJP is led by District Attorney Sullivan; Dominic

Sondrini, Soldier On and Marie Demarey, VA-
Veterans Justice Outreach. Martha Murphy
Kane, the NWDA Director of Operations, has Veterans Treatment Court team
been an integral part of coordinating VJP and
moving it forward. Dominic Sondrini and Marie WMass Veterans Treatment Court
Demarey have been the driving forces in
identifying and screening court-involved Established in 2015, the Western
veterans in order to address and reduce their Massachusetts Veterans Treatment Court
criminal behavior and improve the quality of works specifically with court-involved veterans
their lives. and is centrally located at Holyoke District Court
to serve veterans from Hampshire, Franklin and
The NWDA continues to update The Veterans Hampden counties. The Office of Northwestern
Blue Book, a comprehensive guide to resources District Attorney plays an integral role in the
and services for veterans. This popular vision and operation of this court. The
resource guide has been distributed throughout participants in the Vets Court program commit
Western Massachusetts and has been noted as to a long-term, intensive probation during
which they receive services for their mental

39 | P a g e
health and substance abuse needs. They also Panels of community members meet once a
receive assistance in locating stable, long-term month to hear new criminal cases and to review
housing and employment. probationers' progress in open cases. The
boards give the community members a forum
Judge Laurie McLeod is the presiding justice of to uphold the values of the community, to
the court. She leads the Veteran Court team support and involve those victimized and to
which is comprised of a cross section of the build avenues for offenders to make amends.
district court community. The team includes
representatives from the Northwestern and We are very grateful for the leadership of
Hampden County District Attorney’s Offices, the Probation Officer Kristy Paciorek, Lucinda
probation department, the Holyoke Police Brown, and Steve Linsky who have
Department, defense attorneys and clinical spearheaded these initiatives. Many thanks to
support from Soldier On and the VA Hospital in the community members who volunteer their
Leeds. It is only appropriate that we have a Vet time to serve on restorative boards.
Court devoted to saving the lives of those who
were willing to give up their lives for their Northwestern Law Enforcement Assistance
country. Program (LEAP)

ADA Mike Russo is the coordinator for the Our Law Enforcement Assistance Program
NWDA. (LEAP) has conducted numerous professional
development trainings and provided assistance
Restorative Justice Programs to law enforcement agencies throughout the
Northwestern District since it was launched in
Restorative Justice programs serve Orange and 2011. The monthly LEAP Newsletter gives
Greenfield District Courts, Eastern Hampshire valuable legal updates to all of our law
District Court and Franklin/ Hampshire Juvenile enforcement partners. Our LEAP website portal
Court. The principles of restorative justice is available on the NWDA website and provides
recognize that criminal behavior harms both 24/7 access to training videos and materials.
individuals and the community as a whole. This training portal is accessible only to law
Restorative justice principles also hold that enforcement agencies.
offenders have an obligation to understand the
harm that they have caused, accept
responsibility for their actions and actively
participate in making amends.

DA Sullivan, UMass Deputy Police Chief Ian

Cyr, NWDA Director of Community Outreach
and Education Laurie Loisel and Northampton
Police Chief Jody Kasper at a Fair and Impartial
Police training

40 | P a g e
Battling Drug Addiction and continued educating the public in its effort
to reduce stigma and remove other barriers
NWDA staff continued working closely with that get in the way of people receiving the help
Hampshire HOPE and the Opioid Task Force of they need.
Franklin County & North Quabbin Region, the
regional opioid prevention coalitions engaged in
the fight to end the opioid epidemic. Among other key initiatives, Hampshire HOPE,
formed in 2015 and operating out of the
District Attorney Sullivan supports the coalitions Northampton Health Department, hosted a
with his time on their executive teams and forum featuring former national drug czar
working groups and his advocacy on Beacon Hill Michael Botticelli as keynote speaker in June.
and elsewhere, fighting for resources to support The forum featured a wall of remembrance and
prevention and intervention as well as hope, on which members of the community
treatment and recovery services for people posted words and pictures to honor loved ones
dealing with opioid misuse disorders. lost and tributes to those in recovery and
distributed Narcan to first responders.
Both coalitions are models of how to harness
community energy to introduce harm reduction
initiatives, public education and evidence-based
practices to reverse the tide of this deadly
epidemic. They work within the cities and
towns they serve to address the rise in
prescription opioid misuse, heroin use,
addiction, and overdose death in the region
through policy, practice, and systems change. Hampshire HOPE collaborated with faith
communities and worked with other coalitions
In 2017, they offered Narcan trainings, to organize overdose awareness vigils and
promoted safe drug storage practices and launched a partnership with police departments
worked with the District Attorney’s office to to send out intervention teams to people who
promote drug collection days to keep drugs have overdosed, making important connections
from being misused. and offering support and information about
resources to get help.

The Opioid Task Force, created in 2013,

operates out of the Franklin Justice Center, and
works with medical and public health
professionals, community coalitions and law The Northampton Recovery Center continued
enforcement to promote evidence-based growing in participant numbers and hours open,
practices and policy change that will save lives providing a supportive community for people at
and mitigate the devastation caused by the all stages of recovery to ensure the
opioid crisis. The Task Force organized events to Northwestern District is a recovery-friendly
support people in recovery, worked with region. Housed in the Edwards Church in
Franklin County-based prevention coalitions Northampton there were about 80 regular

41 | P a g e
attenders and nearly 500 people who attended Connecticut , District Attorney Sullivan,
some of NRC’s offerings at some point over the Massachusetts State Police, Sheriff’s
course of 2017. Departments, and local law enforcement
formed a Western Massachusetts Safe School
The Center offers all-recovery support Security Task Force. The Task Force has helped
meetings, wellness activities such as yoga, to coordinate law enforcement and first
meditation and writing groups, safety trainings, responder trainings, school safety audits, school
meals and social events, to name a few. Peer lockdown and emergency protocols, active
members conceive of, plan and design the shooter trainings, improved building designs,
center’s wellness activities, ensuring that the and safe school climate initiatives. This Safe
offerings are of interest to people engaged in School Security Task Force is spearheaded by
the recovery process. Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Rick
Gawron.
Lynn Ferro. The NWDA’s Director of Opioid
Research and Recovery Services, continued to NoFIRES
play an integral role in expanding the services
and support offered by the Recovery Center.

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office

continues to work with the Northwestern Youth
Fire Intervention Response, Education and
Northampton Recovery Center workshop Safety Partnership (NoFIRES) and community
partners to serve as an educational and
prevention initiative aimed at reducing youth-
set fires in the home, school, and community.

NoFIRES is a non-profit organization that offers

education and intervention to youth fire
setters. In 2013, NoFIRES expanded to serve 51
communities located in Franklin County,
Hampshire County, North Quabbin Region, and
the City of Holyoke. The core mission is to
protect our youth, their families, and the
Northampton Recovery Center members communities in which they live from the
thank Lynn Ferro dangerous, and sometimes fatal, act of setting
fires. A collaboration of fire, law enforcement,
School Safety and Security Task Force mental healthcare providers and social service
agencies, NoFIRES is committed to providing a
In the tragic wake of the shooting at the Sandy coordinated and appropriate response to youth
Hook Elementary School in Newtown, under the age of 18, who set fires or engage in

42 | P a g e
fire-related behavior. The NoFIRES program has
quickly become a national model program for
helping youth fire setters.

NoFIRES conference - photo by Public Safety

Multimedia

On November 8th and 9th, 2017, the NoFIRES

Partnership and NWDA proudly presented the
NoFIRES Executive Director Loren Davine 5th Annual Arson Investigation Conference:
Investigating Fatal Fires at the Hadley Farms
Meeting House in Hadley, MA. More than 130
police, firefighters, prosecutors, investigators,
In 2017, NoFIRES received 58 referrals to the and mental health providers attended. The
program and held 17 fire education classes. Department of Fire Services and State Fire
More than 300 families have been served by Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey shared current data
NoFIRES since it was developed in 2012. on fatal fires in Massachusetts. Legal expert
Attorney John Scheft presented on the Law of
Interviewing, MSP Trooper Joseph Gura
At this time, NoFIRES is one of the few discussed a recent fatal fire case that involved
programs available for youth that have engaged hoarding, and K9 Handlers shared the role &
in fire-related behavior. Our unique model of capabilities of accelerant dogs. Lastly, the
utilizing licensed clinical social workers for Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigation
screenings and specialized fire educators for Team conducted a memorable live burn
classes makes this program an invaluable asset demonstration to depict how quickly fire
to the 51 communities it serves. spreads.

In addition to providing fire safety education to

youth who have engaged in fire setting,
NoFIRES is committed to providing high-quality
trainings in this field to educators, clinicians,
prosecutors, fire investigators and law
enforcement.

43 | P a g e
 Interns assigned to the Victim Witness Unit
work directly with advocates who serve as
liaisons between the prosecutors, victims and
witnesses as developments occur in cases. They
also assist victims with compensation forms and
referrals to community services and promote
awareness of victims’ rights in the community.

In the Consumer Protection Unit, interns are

directly involved in consumer casework, fielding
consumer calls, assessing problems, conveying
information, sending correspondence, referring
Controlled burn demonstration
photos by Public Safety Multimedia
consumers to other agencies, and working on
special projects. Consumer Protection interns
also mediate cases between businesses and
Internship Program consumers.
The NWDA offers summer and academic year
internships to college and law school students FEDERAL GRANTS MAKE A
in the following areas: legal, administrative, DIFFERENCE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
communications, outreach, victim/witness
services and consumer protection. Every year, critical federal grants make a
difference in fighting crime and helping
College internships provide students with vulnerable victims. Listed are some of the
valuable insight into the workings of the federal grants which have been awarded to the
criminal justice system. Law students selected Northwestern District Attorney’s Office with
to participate in the Northwestern District details as to how they assist prevention
Attorney's Office Legal Internship Program programs and victims of child abuse, domestic
assist prosecutors in the Juvenile, District, violence, sexual assaults, and other major
Superior, and Appellate courts, gaining crimes. These are essential grants for safer
experience in legal research, writing, case communities and are not available from any
preparation and trial practice. other funding sources.

Drug Diversion & Treatment Program

(DDTP)

Funding awarded in 2016 and renewed in 2017

through the Heroin and Opioid Crime Reduction
State Initiative and the federal Justice
Assistance Grant (JAG) program enabled the
development and continued implementation of
an innovative pre- and post-arraignment
diversion program for non-violent offenders
who have a substance use disorder and are
Litigation Support Specialist Administrator charged with specific drug and drug-related
Jamie Foster and Intern Tommy Townsend at offenses.
Statewide meeting of Appellate attorneys

44 | P a g e
 Program Director Dan Carey launched the pilot
DDTP program in February of 2016 in the
Greenfield District Court. DDTP is now fully
functioning in all four of the district courts in
the Northwestern District.

In 2017, District Court Administrator Maria

Sotolongo joined the program as a coordinator.

At the heart of the successful implementation

of the NWDA’s Drug Diversion & Treatment
Deputy DA Jan Healy, Drug Diversion and Program are the strong partnerships which we
Treatment Coordinators Maria Sotolongo and have developed with our two treatment
Dan Carey; Victim Witness Advocate providers, Clinical Support Options (CSO) and
Wendy Adams and ADA Marie Angers at the Center for Human Development (CHD); the
Northampton Recovery Center MA Department of Public Health, local law
enforcement; Trial Court Department staff in
each of our district courts; the Recovery
Support Center in each county; and our two
Western Massachusetts regional drug task
forces/coalitions.

VOCA – Victims of Crime Act

Child Abuse Unit

The Child Abuse Unit (CAU) provides support

services and advocacy to child victims of
physical and sexual abuse and to their families.
Family service advocates within the CAU
provide information and advocacy regarding the
criminal justice process, crisis intervention,
social service intervention and social service
referrals. The VOCA grant funds are being used
to support one family service advocate’s
position for the CAU.

The NWDA’s Drug Diversion & Treatment Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Program (DDTP) provides eligible candidates S.T.O.P. Grant
with the opportunity to obtain comprehensive The DVIP/AWARE Project
substance use disorder treatment and recovery
support in lieu of being prosecuted through the The Domestic Violence Intervention Project
criminal justice system. By offering (DVIP) is funded by the Office on Violence
comprehensive treatment and recovery Against Women, The S.T.O.P. (Services Training
support, DDTP seeks to improve overall public Officers Prosecutors) Grant. DVIP is an early
safety by reducing substance use and criminal intervention, collaborative program that
recidivism in our district. combines the services of forty-five police
departments, five state police barracks, two

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dispatch centers, three courts, two victim
service providers and our local certified
batterer’s intervention program. This regional
approach to domestic violence spans two
counties and forty-seven towns. Advocates
hired by the New England Learning Center for
Women in Transition (NELCWIT) in Franklin
County, and Safe Passage in Hampshire County,
are available by cell phone to assist police in
providing an immediate response to victims of
domestic abuse.
DA Sullivan and friends on Monte’s Walk to
Office on Violence Against Women-Grants benefit the Food Bank of
to Encourage Arrest Program Western Massachusetts
The Domestic Violence High Risk Team
Project

This project, funded by the Office on Violence

Against Women, Grants to Encourage Arrest,
began in 2009. The primary goal of the High
Risk Team Project is to identify, closely monitor
and hold accountable high risk offenders of
domestic violence. There are two high risk
teams, one in each county. The coordinator
screens referrals from the courts and non-profit
agencies, gathers information and presents LEAP trainer John Scheft and retired Juvenile
cases to the team. Each team has county Justice Chief Yvonne Pesce
representation from police, the NWDA,
probation, parole, sheriff’s departments,
batterer’s intervention, victim service providers
and the courts. Teams meet monthly to
identify new high risk offenders, review and
update the current list of offenders, and
address any new offenses and/or safety
concerns for victims. Recommendations are
made for each high risk offender and
communicated to police, probation and
prosecutors. Recommendations can include
priority prosecution, police drive-bys and
improved safety plan for victims. State Representatives Paul Marx and Steve
Kulik with DA Sullivan at
Greenfield Community College

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FISCAL UNIT
The Fiscal Unit is led by Chief Financial Officer
Donna Dudkiewicz with the assistance of Fiscal
Assistant Higy Chan, and Fiscal Administrative
CY17 Total Appropriation Funding
Assistant Jess Diemand. The Fiscal Unit oversees $6,614,497
the 2017 Northwestern DA’s Office budget
which includes all grants awarded to the office
from federal and state sources. The Unit is CY17 Total Grant Funding
responsible for the management and allocation $536,620
of state and federal funds received by the office
and ensures that all our funds are expended in a
fiscally responsible manner. In addition, the Grand Total
Unit coordinates the tracking of forfeiture funds
recovered by the Office through successful
$7,151,117
prosecution of narcotics cases with Chief Trial
Counsel Jeremy Bucci. The Fiscal Unit also plays
an integral role in the writing and
Appropriation Funding Percentage
administration of state and federal grants. 92.5%

Grant Funding Percentage

7.5%

The Fiscal team: Chief Donna Dudkiewicz,

Jess Diemand and Higy Chan

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 DA Sullivan and Assistant District Attorneys at the Franklin Justice Center in Greenfield

NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY OFFICE Northwestern District Attorney’s Website:
One Gleason Plaza
Northampton, MA 01060
NorthwesternDA.org
Phone: (413) 586-9225/ Fax: (413) 584-3635
NorthwesternDA.org
EASTERN HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT COURT OFFICE
205 State St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
at NorthwesternDADaveSullivan
Phone: (413) 323-5275/ Fax: (413) 323-5379
FRANKLIN COUNTY OFFICE
56 Bank Row
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-3186/ Fax: (413) 773-3278
ORANGE DISTRICT COURT OFFICE
One Court Square
Orange, MA 01364
Phone: (978)-544-8277 Fax: (978) 544-5204

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 Our Mission
To Seek Justice For All. The Office of the Northwestern District Attorney, in
partnership with the communities we serve, is dedicated to the pursuit of
truth and justice, protection of the innocent, and safety of the public.

Our Vision
Our vision is to enhance public safety and quality of life for all citizens in the
47 Northwestern communities. We will be leaders in fair and effective
prosecutions and progressive prevention initiatives.

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