Crime

Former School Computer Manager Pleads Guilty to Cyberattack Last Summer

By |

An Ayer man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Boston to committing a cyberattack against Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School’s computer network. Thirty-year-old Conor LaHiff, who worked at the school before being terminated last June, pleaded guilty to unauthorized damage to protected computers. U.S. Chief District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 20. Among other conditions of release, Saylor required that LaHiff notify prospective employers of his guilty plea, after learning that LaHiff had obtained a similar position at another public high school. As WHAV previously reported, LaHiff was charged on Nov.

Crime

Methuen Woman Pleads Guilty to Taking Social Security Benefits Intended for Her Child

By |

A 57-year-old Methuen woman pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Boston to stealing Social Security benefits intended for her child. Karen Silva-Brown, pleaded guilty to theft of public funds before U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who scheduled sentencing for March 7. She was arrested and charged in November 2022 for continuing to take benefit payments after her child was no longer in her custody. According to court documents, Silva-Brown took approximately $60,810 in Social Security benefits that were intended for her minor child between November 2014 and October 2018. Prosecutors said Silva-Brown applied for and began receiving benefits in March 2012 on behalf of her child, but was told to tell the Social Security Administration if her child left her custody.

Crime

Feds Charge Former Whittier Tech Employee with June Cyberattack on School Systems

By |

A former employee of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of a cyberattack on the school this past summer. According to court documents, 30-year-old Conor LaHiff was employed as a desktop and network manager at Whittier Tech until he was fired in June. After his termination, LaHiff allegedly used his administrative privileges to deactivate and delete thousands of Apple IDs from the school’s Apple School Manager account—software used to manage student, faculty and staff information technology resources. LaHiff also allegedly deactivated more than 1,400 other Apple accounts and other IT administrative accounts and disabled the school’s private branch phone system, which knocked out the school’s telephone service for about 24 hours. LaHiff, of Ayer, was charged directly by the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy with unauthorized damage to protected computers.

Crime

Multiple Arrests Follow Baby Shower Melee Involving up to 40 People in Haverhill

By |

A 45-year-old Dracut woman and three others face charges after a baby shower Sunday in Haverhill turned into a melee involving up to 40 people. Haverhill Deputy Police Chief Stephen J. Doherty Jr. told WHAV Olga Figueroa was charged with disorderly conduct after a fight broke out around 6 p.m., Sunday, at the Haverhill Lodge of Elks function hall, 24 Summer St. Another unidentified person from Lawrence was arrested on multiple charges including assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Two others, including a juvenile, will be summonsed into court. The juvenile is alleged to have grabbed a hall employee by the throat, while a 19-year-old, Manchester, N.H., person is expected to be charged with destruction of property after punching a bathroom mirror.

Crime

Heavy Police Presence Converges on Plaistow Home After Break-In

By |

(Additional photograph below.)

Updated: Police Chief John J. Santoro confirms there were no arrests Friday contrary to social media posts. A heavy contingent of Plaistow, N.H., Police and the Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit converged Friday morning on a vacant Maple Avenue home where guns were previously stored, after two people were detected by a remote home security camera. Plaistow Police said in a statement dispatchers received a call around 8:30 a.m. for a report of a break-in at 8 Maple Ave. They said the homeowner learned of the break-in by her security camera. Police said officers quickly blocked off the area and alerted surrounding residents to shelter in place.

Crime

Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Go to Methuen, North Andover, West Newbury and Others

By |

Police departments in area cities and towns are receiving federal grants to address “unmet public safety priorities.”

The Edward J. Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, awarded by the U.S. Justice Department and administered by the state, pay for strategies to stem drug use, human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, gang and gun violence, missing person cases and hate crimes. Additional priorities may include technology upgrades, investigative tools and protective gear, school safety and security and efforts to advance racial equity and support underserved communities. Grants awarded locally are Lawrence, $50,000; Merrimac $49,528; Methuen, $49,550; North Andover, $36,476; and West Newbury, $30,876. Gov. Maura Healey said “This program allows towns and cities to identify their most pressing needs and direct funding to address those challenges. The ability of local public safety leaders to guide funds toward priority safety initiatives encourages a holistic approach to improving safety in communities with diverse needs.”

Crime

Police Arrest 18-Year-Old Lawrence Man in New York in Connection with Murder

By |

The 18-year-old Lawrence man wanted in connection with a Worcester murder was arrested Thursday in New York. The office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said Kevin Rodriguez was arrested without incident on a warrant, charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. Early’s office said Sunday two men were found with gunshot wounds around 2:30 a.m., Saturday, on the Worcester State University campus. Both were taken to area hospitals and a 19-year-old died from his injuries. The second victim, a 21-year-old man, appears to have non-life-threatening injuries.

Crime

Feds Charge Haverhill Man, 27, With Alleged Cocaine Dealing and Ghost Gun Sales

By |

A 27-year-old Haverhill man was one of two arrested Thursday in connection with dealing in cocaine and illegal firearms—including alleged ghost guns—in and around the Boston area. Cordell Miller of Haverhill and 32-year-old Malcolm Desir of Brockton were each charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do the same, being a felon in possession of a firearm and firearms trafficking. They were arrested and detained following an appearance in federal court. According to court documents, Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. Over a three-month investigation beginning last August, Miller allegedly sold several firearms to a cooperating witness during controlled purchases and offered to sell distribution weight cocaine.