A paroled killer accused of groping a 13-year-old girl in a Plymouth hotel pool wants a judge to throw out the charges, arguing that police lost key evidence — notes and recordings from interviews with the alleged victim and her friend. The alleged incident took place in February at the Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor. Police […]
Author Archives: Andrea Estes - Independent Staff
Posted inPolice & Fire
‘You can’t sit on your balcony or even watch TV’
They moved to the Plymouth waterfront, drawn by the spectacular bay views from their living room windows. Life at Copper Cove Village was idyllic, and the condo owners loved calling it home. They knew that living in the downtown area might come with some noise. But they never imagined their lives would be upended by […]
Posted inEducation
State says Plymouth pre-school was ‘less than forthcoming’ during investigation of alleged misconduct
The operators of Starboard Academy stonewalled, dissembled, and delayed efforts by a state agency to investigate allegations of misconduct at the private Plymouth school for young children, according to a report obtained by the Plymouth Independent. School leaders did almost nothing when a male teacher was accused of repeatedly touching a female colleague in front […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Plymouth man charged with raping woman outside of Main Street bar
A Plymouth man faces possible deportation after being accused of raping a woman he met early Sunday morning at a downtown bar. Luan Lucas De Souza Goncalves, 21, is being held on $1,000 bail after pleading not guilty to rape and indecent assault and battery charges Monday in Plymouth District Court. He is in the […]
Posted inGovernment
Ignoring that jury duty notice could land you before a judge
If you don’t show up for jury duty, you may end up in court anyway — this time as a criminal defendant. Most residents of Plymouth County, including Plymouth and the rest of Massachusetts, answer the call to serve, state officials say. But a small number don’t. They toss their jury duty notice in the […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
From a teetering Jeep to a toppled sign to a dangling bumper, police arrest three drivers in separate incidents
What do all these have in common? A Jeep teetering at the edge of Manomet Point, a giant highway sign splayed across the hood of a Buick, and a public school bus with rear-end damage. That’s what Plymouth police found when they answered three separate driving-related calls this week. Three drivers now face criminal charges […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Former Holtec worker at Pilgrim plant alleges radiation poisoning
A former Holtec worker at the shuttered Pilgrim nuclear power plant has filed suit against the company, alleging he was poisoned by radiation. Adam Snyder, 41, a boilermaker from Ohio, also claims the company kept secret the dangerous conditions at the Manomet plant, which stopped generating power in 2019 and is being decommissioned by Holtec. […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Suspect in organized theft spree held on $100,000 bail
A New York woman was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail Tuesday, charged with taking part in a retail theft ring that stole thousands of dollars in merchandise from Ulta Beauty stores, including one in Plymouth. Johana Quispe of Queens, NY, 34, pleaded not guilty in Plymouth District Court Tuesday to organized retail crime, larceny […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Firefighter charged with making secret video recordings resigns under pressure
The Plymouth firefighter accused of making secret video recordings of his ex-girlfriend in the nude has resigned after being given a choice — step down or face a disciplinary hearing, according to a person briefed on the matter. Richard Pimental had been on paid leave since last November — collecting his $100,000 annual pay – […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
With a suspect facing murder charges, family and friends of Brent Berkeley grieve his senseless death
The community is grieving after a minor traffic incident in downtown Plymouth late Friday afternoon led to a shocking act of violence that left one man dead and another facing murder charges. The suspect, 23-year-old David Jerome, of Plymouth, allegedly shot Brent Berkeley, 41, also of Plymouth multiple times — before trying to save him […]