“BOSTON – A former nurse pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to adulteration of fentanyl at a local hospital.

Caroline Sheehan, 39, of Lowell, Mass. pleaded guilty to one count of adulteration of a prescription drug with intent to defraud and mislead. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2024. Sheehan was charged by Information in November 2023.

While working at a Massachusetts hospital, Sheehan removed a bag of intravenous fentanyl solution from an automated dispensing machine. Sheehan used a syringe to remove fentanyl from the IV bag, injected saline into the bag to replace the fentanyl she had removed and returned the bag to its drawer in the machine. A hospital employee removed the IV bag, which laboratory testing confirmed contained less than the declared concentration of fentanyl, from the machine before any of the adulterated fentanyl solution was administered to a patient. Sheehan later admitted that she had withdrawn fentanyl from the IV bag and replaced it with saline to avoid getting caught.

The charge of adulteration of a prescription drug provides a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Robert Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Begg Lawrence, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.” -Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“NEW BEDFORD – Mayor Jon Mitchell is submitting a proposal to the City Council which would establish a mechanism to recall City elected officers, fulfilling a promise he made last year.

In the Friday, Feb. 23, filing to the City Council, Mayor Mitchell writes “While I believe that the recall of an elected officer should be an extraordinary remedy, I also believe that it is prudent to have a recall process so that voters can protect themselves against egregious breaches of public trust.”

The proposal establishes a high standard the public would have to meet in order to recall an elected officer.

The proposed guidelines for ward and at-large elected officers are:

Ward Officer: 100 voters of the ward initiate the recall petition by filing an affidavit with the Board of Election Commissioners, which will then issue recall petition blanks. The blanks must be returned within 45 days and contain signatures from at least 15% of the ward’s registered voters. Also, at least 15% of registered voters in the ward must vote in the recall election.

At-Large Officer: 600 voters initiate a recall petition by filing an affidavit with the Board of Election Commissioners that includes 100 signatures from each ward. The Board will then issue recall petition blanks, which must be returned within 45 days and contain signatures from at least 15% of registered voters across the City with 10% of such signatures coming from each ward. Finally, at least 15% of registered voters must vote in the recall election.

“I believe that these provisions strike the proper balance between providing voters with a necessary recall mechanism and ensuring that a recall of an elected officer cannot occur without significant deliberation and broad public support,” Mayor Mitchell writes.

Additionally, Mayor Mitchell’s proposal includes the stipulation that if an elected officer is recalled, they will be ineligible to fill the vacancy caused by their recall, either in a subsequent election or by appointment. If an elected officer is recalled, the vacancy will be filled in accordance with the City charter.

In a related housekeeping matter, Mayor Mitchell is also filing a proposal to clarify the process in how a vacancy in the office of Mayor is filled. The existing provision addresses how a vacancy is to be filled in the first and second year of a Mayor’s term, but it has not updated in light of the City’s adoption of a four-year mayoral term in 2017. The new provision makes clear how the process would work at any point in the four-year term.”

On Friday, members of the Brockton School Committee sent a letter to the Mayor of Brockton, the Honorable Robert F. Sullivan, asking him to send a request to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey asking her to send in the National Guard to Brockton High School and expressed a concern for the elementary and middle shools throughout the city.

The letter cited a high-level of teacher absences of 35 teachers, adult trespassers found on school property, regular and frequent student violence, students leaving school grounds without permission, and many other issues. Students who do not participate in the violence express the difficulty to learn in the toxic environment and teachers are concerned that this will jeopardize the integrity of statewide testing processes.

School committee members explicitly called it an ‘educational crisis’ that will lead to ‘potential tragedy’ and hope the request will lead to a return of student safety and a restoration of order.

While school committee members are unanimous in their concerns, they don’t all agree about bringing in the national Guard. Some members fear a military presence will create an intimidating environment and one that will infringe on students’ civil liberties.

Here is the letter in full:

“February 15, 2024.

Re: Request for National Guard Assistance at Brockton High School

Dear Mayor Sullivan and Chair of the Brockton School Committee, We, the undersigned members of the Brockton School Committee, write to you with a matter of utmost urgency regarding the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and the community at large.

Recent events at Brockton High School have prompted us to seek immediate assistance to prevent a potential tragedy.

Over the past few months, our high school has experienced a disturbing increase in incidents related to violence, security concerns, and substance abuse. The situation has reached a critical point, more recently we had an alarming 35 teachers absent, underscoring the severity of the challenges we are facing.

Instances of students wandering the halls, engaging in altercations, and causing disruptions in classrooms have become alarmingly frequent. These incidents are not only undermining the learning environment but are also jeopardizing the integrity of the state wide testing process. As concerned members of the school committee, we are reaching out to you with the hope that the City and State can provide assistance and support in addressing this urgent matter.

Over the past several weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of students leaving the school premises without proper authorization. This unauthorized departure is a result of a lack of adequate staffing to monitor exits and entrances effectively. Additionally, the school has been experiencing incidents of trespassing, with individuals gaining access to the school property without proper authorization.

There are many instances where trespassers are found on school grounds, raising serious questions about the security and safety measures in place. These situations not only put the students and staff at risk but also undermines the overall safety of our community.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, we are formally requesting that you reach out to Governor Healey and request the deployment of the National Guard to assist in restoring order, ensuring the safety of all individuals on the school premises, and implementing measures to address the root causes of the issues we are facing.

We understand the gravity of this request and the importance of collaboration between local and state authorities. The National Guard’s expertise in crisis management and community support can offer a vital temporary intervention, allowing for a comprehensive, long-term solution to be developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

Given the urgency of the matter, we respectfully request an expedited meeting to discuss the deployment of the National Guard to Brockton High School. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely, Joyce Asack- Ward 6 School Committee, Tony Rodrigues – Ward 4 School Committee, Ana Oliver- Ward 3 School Committee, and Claudio Gomes – Ward 2 School Committee.”

A driver was cited after a Brockton, Massachusetts, crash Tuesday night that left a massive hole in a home.

A black Honda Civic sedan hit a curb and a fence before it crashed into the front bay window of a home at 901 Crescent St. at about 10 p.m., Brockton police said.

Brockton Fire said the female driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center.

A man was inside the home at the time. He was evaluated on scene but did not need additional medical treatment.

The driver was cited for operating under the influence, marked lanes violation and possession of an open container in the vehicle, Brockton police said. Her name was not released.

Brockton Fire said no utilities were affected, and the home is still livable despite the damage.

The crash is under investigation.