Crime

Haverhill Man, 23, Faces Charges After Newburyport Police Seize Reportedly Stolen Handgun

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A 23-year-old Haverhill man was arraigned Monday in Newburyport District Court after being arrested on alleged gun charges early Sunday in Newburyport where police seized a loaded, and previously reported stolen, handgun. Newburyport City Marshal Matthew Simons said in a press release that Ja Wayne Keondre Early was arrested Sunday, Jan. 26, at 12:09 a.m. at a Wendy’s restaurant at 25 Storey Ave. Simons said police were sent to the restaurant after receiving a report of a dispute among three people involving a gun. Simons said an investigation found Early was in possession of a firearm and officers took a loaded 9 mm handgun from an involved vehicle.

Crime

Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing COVID-19 Aid and Late Dad’s Social Security 22 Years

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A 57-year-old Lawrence man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Boston to fraudulently obtaining and misusing COVID-19 relief money and stealing Social Security benefits over 22 years totaling more than $200,000. Randolph Dominguez pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for May 21. Prosecutors say Dominguez submitted a loan application in June 2020, on behalf of an interpreter business he owned and operated, Dominguez SP Interpreters, to the Small Business Administration under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. He obtained $74,900 in July 2020 when he falsely claimed his gross business revenue was $600,000 the previous year, but the business made only $16,989.

Crime

DA Tucker Lauds Addition of ‘Coercive Control’ to Domestic Violence Statute

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Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker this week praised the addition of “coercive control” to the state’s domestic violence law. Tucker made his remarks at a Community Conversation forum at Beverly’s Cabot theater. He was joined by state Sen. Joan Lovely, Healing Abuse Working for Change Executive Director Sara Stanley, Beverly Police Department Domestic Violence Advocate Ross Steinborn and Assistant District Attorney Hunter Wildrick Melo. “It’s important that the judicial system understands the dynamics of the cycle of violence,” Tucker said, in saluting the legislature for adopting the new language and extending the statute of limitations, which he said is “critically important, particularly when it comes to rape and domestic violence.”

Coercive control, he noted, is defined as “a pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, coerce or compel compliance of a family or household member that causes that family or household member to reasonably fear physical harm or have a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy.”

“The addition of coercive control language makes obtaining a restraining order available to a wider range of people,” Stanley said, not solely those being physically victimized. Melo noted that the coercive control language also “adds teeth to a court order by letting people know they can potentially get arrested if they violate it.”

Crime

UTEC Among Those Receiving State Grants to Help Reduce Repeat Offenses by Those Leaving Prison

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The Essex County Sheriff’s Department was among those recently awarded state Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative grants to reduce repeat offenses and improve outcomes of people aged 18 to 25 who are leaving prison. Chelsea-based Roca was awarded $1.6 million to provide programs for the prison and probations operations of the Sheriff’s Departments of Essex, Hampden and Suffolk counties, while UTEC—which operates in Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell—was awarded $1.2 million for prisons operated by the Sherriff’s Departments in Essex and Middlesex counties. According to the state, programs partner with the departments to deliver pre- and post-release services. “Quality reentry programs are essential to preventing recidivism and improving outcomes for young adults. The Emerging Adult Reentry Initiative combines evidence-based programming with ongoing technical assistance and strong collaboration between partner agencies and service providers.

Crime

Judge Sentences North Andover Business Owner for Using COVID-19 Aid to Buy Ring, Remodel Home

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A 42-year-old North Andover businessman was sentenced Wednesday for taking COVID-19 relief aid to, among other things, buy a diamond ring and remodel his home. Jesse Lelievre, owner and manager of Paramount Plumbing & Heating, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to two years of supervised release, with the first five months as home detention. Lelievre was also ordered to pay $179,090 in restitution. Last September, Lelievre pleaded guilty to theft of government property. After being charged in July.

Crime

2024 Year in Review: Backyard Pipe Bomb and Hotel Shootout Among Strange Haverhill Crimes

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Two strange and potentially life-threatening crimes put Haverhill residents on edge in 2024. A backyard “pipe bomb,” thought capable of sending shrapnel up to 300 yards away, caused the evacuation of Haverhill homes last July, while a gunfight at a Haverhill hotel left a 20-year-old seriously injured in March. In July, Haverhill Police charged 63-year-old David Farnsworth with making the pipe bomb with the intent to injure and making terroristic threats, among other charges. Police were initially alerted by a relative who said Farnsworth, reportedly battling a serious illness and suffering from depression, claimed to have been “building a bomb to kill himself and others.”

Police evacuated surrounding neighbors near the Methuen line, off Routes 110 and 113, including the densely populated Churchill Courts apartment complex. The State Police Bomb Squad determined the three-foot tall explosive “was a functioning device” and that nearby homes “would have been impacted by any explosion.” Roads in the area were closed for State Police-supervised detonations.

Crime

Lawrence Man, Shot by Haverhill Police Last Month, Faces Charges Related to Striking Officers with Car

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A 26-year-old, shot by a Haverhill detective last month after he allegedly drove into police officers conducting an investigation, is scheduled to return in January to both Haverhill and Lawrence District Courts. Records show Christopher Roque-Joaquin of Lawrence was arraigned in Haverhill District Court Dec. 11, nearly a month after he allegedly tried to run down Haverhill police officers who conducting an investigation at the Main Street McDonald’s in Haverhill. He will appear during a pre-trial hearing Jan. 21 before Judge Cesar A. Archilla in Haverhill District Court on such charges as six counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of property damage, driving under influence of drugs, failure to stop for police, possession of a class A drug, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, driving after suspended of license and registration, driving an uninsured motor vehicle and larceny under $1,200.

Crime

New Hampshire State Police Says Aircraft Clocked 20 I-93 Drivers Traveling Faster Than 90 MPH

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New Hampshire State Police said its aircraft observed this week 52 drivers violating traffic laws along Interstate 93 north in Salem, N.H., with drivers some traveling faster than 100 miles per hour

Police reported no arrests Dec. 23 by the State Police Special Enforcement Unit, but said violations included speeding, distracted driving, following too closely and reckless driving. Twenty drivers were seen traveling 90 miles per hour or greater and five were driving recklessly and traveling faster than 100 miles per hour. It warned, troopers will continue to conduct traffic enforcement to reduce speeds, prevent serious crashes and ensure the safety of residents and visitors this holiday season. New Hampshire State Police reminded drivers minimum penalties for reckless driving include a fine of $620 with an additional mandatory penalty assessment and a 60-day loss of driver’s licenses.