Winthrop

Court orders new trial for man convicted of killing drug-dealer enforcer

adamg — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:28:33 +0000

The Supreme Judicial Court today threw out the first-degree murder conviction of a man charged with firing massive numbers of bullets into two drug dealers and their muscle, leaving one dead.

The court ruled that John Baciagalupo's right to confront his accusers was violated because a witness testified about what he and a second man charged with the shootings did on Nov. 24. 1996:

East Boston man charged with preying on Winthrop church

adamg — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:51:58 +0000

Michael Bocchino, 50, was recently arraigned on charges of failing to do masonry work for which he'd been paid and cashing checks he'd stolen from the rectory of Holy Rosary Church, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

In all, Bocchino is charged with absconding with $30,000 - $10,000 in payments for incomplete work over a year and $20,000 in blank church checks he made out to himself or his company, prosecutors charge.

Bocchino was arraigned last week in East Boston District Court after a joint investigation over several months by police in both Wintrhop and Boston - where he allegedly cashed most of the checks.

He's next scheduled for a Dec. 21 pre-trial hearing.

Next ferry to Winthrop

adamg — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:23:28 +0000

Wicked Winthrop reports the town's gotten a $950,000 federal stimulus grant to start ferry service to and from Rowe's Wharf.

DA: Trio of teen thugs in Winthrop stabbed two other teens in the chest

adamg — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:26:15 +0000

John and Michael Walker: At booking.

Two Winthrop twins and a pal are charged with slicing up two kids, 16 and 13, over an earlier fight, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office says.

John and Michael Walker each face two counts each of assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault and battery. John Walker is also charged with an additional count of threats to commit a crime and malicious destruction of property. James Murray, 17, was charged two counts of assault and battery. Prosecutors had asked for $500,000 bail for John Walker; an East Boston District Court judge set his bail at $10,000.

Isn't this only supposed to happen in Florida?

adamg — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:21:22 +0000

Winthrop sinkhole swallows SUV.

Man facing drug charges sues DA

adamg — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:18:57 +0000

The Globe reports on the lawsuit by Pasquale Capogreco of Winthrop, who alleges the DA dropped drug charges against an East Boston acquaintance because the guy's brother is East Boston state Rep. Carlo Basile. DA Dan Conley and Basile both deny the charges.

Winthrop: The Lynn of the 21st century

adamg — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:54:04 +0000

It's amazing what you can get on a bumper sticker these days.

You better watch your step in Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, Winthrop and Quincy

adamg — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:53:58 +0000

They're installing street surveillance cameras for the first time, the Cambridge Chronicle reports. It's part of a $4.6-million Homeland Security grant (Winthrop as terrorist target?) to deploy 100 new cameras in greater Boston.

Boston, Chelsea, Everett, and Revere are also installing cameras under the program, but they already had cameras in place.

Booming Suffolk County

adamg — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:27:14 +0000

Our census correspondent, Mats Tolander, reports the latest government estimates show Suffolk County gained about 3,000 new residents in 2007 over 2006.

Fertility drugs at work in the South End?

Airliners come under attack from idiots at Belle Isle Marsh

adamg — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:01:12 +0000

Jorge, who reported idiot duck hunters under a Logan flight path in Belle Isle Marsh on New Year's Day, reports they were back this morning. This time he took their photo:

... At this point the planes are very close to the ground. I heard them fire twice. I called the Boston Police twice from my cell phone and of course, the hunters and their dog packed up and left with no appearance from the Boston Police. These guys are a hazard in so many ways that I can't even begin to tell you without getting all balled up with anger.

But wait. Look at this Channel 4 report today: Fireworks Possibly Shot At Plane Landing At Logan:

... An Air Wisconsin regional jet was coming in for a landing over Winthrop Saturday afternoon, when the pilot reported seeing what looked like fireworks.

They appeared to be coming from the Belle Isle Marsh area. The plane was not hit and landed safely. ...

The Globe says it was a model rocket fired from the marsh around 12:26 p.m., or about 45 minutes after Jorge filed his blog post. So you've got dolts at one end of the marsh shooting ~~rifles~~ shotguns into the sky while planes are landing and dolts with model rockets at the other end of the marsh shooting their toys into the sky while planes are landing.

Towering

adamg — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:15:44 +0000

Today was not a good day to attempt a walk around Deer Island with a kidlet wearing summer pants. So we drove around Winthrop instead.

Interview the district attorney

adamg — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:06:35 +0000

Question time is closed. Now it's time to pick the five questions to pose to the DA.

You're in a room with Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley. He's waiting for your questions. So what would you ask him?

Here's your chance. We're going to experiment with a public interview, where you, not some reporter, decides what to ask. Conley has agreed to take your questions in this format:

Over the next couple of days, post possible questions as a reply here. I'll pick what seem like 10 good questions. Then we'll vote on the questions - the top five most popular ones will get submitted to Conley. He'll have next week to come up with answers, which I'll post on July 9 - and which you'll then be able to discuss.

The only request Conley made was: No questions on specific cases. But that still leaves plenty of other areas to ask him about. For example: Violent crime; gangs; murder conviction rates; witness intimidation; gun control; a shortage of jurors; the death penalty. I'm sure you can come up with other topics.

To get you started with some ideas, here are some links:

Official bio
Another bio
Letting the DA skate - Critical piece in the Phoenix.

Issues:
Bill tries to stem teens' threats to witnesses
Juror shortage in Boston
Latest Boston crime stats
Boston to press Congress for tougher gun laws
25 alleged Boston gang members charged with gun, drug offenses.

The USS John F. Kennedy off Deer Island

adamg — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:18:43 +0000

Jorge snaps a photo of the soon to be decommissioned aircraft carrier:

... This is just so huge that you can't help but stare in amazement at its size.

In a fog off Winthrop

adamg — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:47:19 +0000

Dinghy in the fog this morning.