By Milton J. Valencia TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF The chief court officer at Dudley District Court could be charged with larceny for allegedly stealing prescription drugs from prisoners in her custody.
The findings of a months-long investigation of the officer, Francine Melanson, 46, of Worcester, have been transferred to the Essex County district attorney’s office for review. A spokesman from that office said yesterday that a hearing will be held June 20 to determine if a criminal charge should be issued against Ms. Melanson.
John T. Dawley, first assistant district attorney for the Essex County district attorney’s office, said a court magistrate will decide at the hearing whether a criminal charge should be issued. If so, Ms. Melanson could be charged and arraigned in Lawrence District Court.
The transfer of the case to Lawrence was to avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest, considering Ms. Melanson’s job duties as head of the district court and her familiarity with the Worcester district attorney’s office.
“It’s the appearance of a conflict of interest that we’re concerned with,” said Timothy J. Connolly, a spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
“It’s what we would do in a similar situation for anybody,” he said. He would not discuss the specifics of the case, only saying state troopers attached to the district attorney’s office forwarded evidence gathered in the investigation.
Ms. Melanson has been on unpaid leave since February, a spokesman for the state Supreme Judicial Court, which acts on behalf of the Massachusetts Trial Court, said at the time.
However, the Telegram & Gazette has learned that state police assigned to the district attorney’s office have been investigating her since last year.
Mr. Dawley said he could not discuss the specifics of the case, because of the secrecy of court magistrate hearings. He would only say he was seeking a larceny charge.
Court and law enforcement sources have said that Ms. Melanson was under investigation for taking painkillers prescribed for prisoners in her charge.
According to people familiar with court protocol, court officers conduct inventories of and have access to prisoners’ personal belongings when they are brought into court.
Ms. Melanson was unavailable for comment yesterday through a visit made to her home. Her telephone number is unlisted.
Ms. Melanson has been a court officer since April 1993, and her salary is $64,752, a spokesman for the state Supreme Judicial Court has said. She also worked in Western Worcester District Court, East Brookfield. Previously, she worked in the human services field. Associates have described her as a hard worker who is active in local political campaigns.
Posted by: PBC FL Cop
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Pay stopped for accused Dudley court officer
By Mike Elfland TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Francine Melanson, the chief court officer who allegedly stole prescription drugs from prisoners, has had her pay stopped.
This morning, a spokeswoman for the state Supreme Judicial Court, which oversees the Trial Court system, said Ms. Melanson’s status has been changed to unpaid leave.
Ms. Melanson, 46, of Worcester, is the chief court officer at Dudley District Court.
Yesterday, following a brief show-cause hearing in Lawrence District Court, Ms. Melanson was formally charged with stealing from prisoners.
She had been on paid leave since February; that status changed when Assistant Clerk Mark Micale found probable cause to issue a criminal complaint against Ms. Melanson.
Charlotte L. Whiting, the spokeswoman, said Ms. Melanson’s unpaid leave will remain in place “until the conclusion of the criminal matter.”
Ms. Melanson will be summoned to court to face the criminal charge. According to sources, she is alleged to have taken prescription painkillers from prisoners in her custody.
The case was move to Essex County, which includes Lawrence District Court, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. She worked in courts in Worcester County.
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