Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Legislation filed in aftermath of John Burbine's arrest aims to fix weaknesses in the state's sex offender registry system.
Local lawmakers and Wakefield’s chief of police were among those calling for changes to the state’s sex offender laws during a Tuesday, May 7 hearing at the State House. The legislation aims to address weaknesses in the sex offender registry system that were brought to light by the John Burbine child sex abuse case. At least one his alleged child sex abuse victims is from Newton. “This legislation will strengthen our laws, provide more information to parents and caregivers, and require information sharing among law enforcement and the agencies we depend on to keep our kids safe,” said Clark. Wakefield Police Chief Rick Smith testified about a parent who came to the police station last summer asking for information Level 1 sex offenders – …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Burbine, who is facing 100 child sex charges in Middlesex County, also has case in Essex County after an accuser came forward.
Accused child molester John Burbine has pleaded not guilty to new charges of rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Early Wednesday, a not guilty plea was entered on Burbine's behalf in Salem Superior Court and he was ordered held without bail. These charges were filed in Essex County after a male accuser came forward with allegations against Burbine shortly after learning of Burbine's arrest late last year. Burbine, who is facing nearly 100 counts of child sex charges in Middlesex County, has been held at the Billerica House of Correction. At least one of his alleged victims is from Newton. Essex County District Attorney's Office Spokesman Carrie Kimball-Monahan told Patch the accuser is a male and that his …
John Burbine's attorney has asked a judge to dismiss eight of the 100 charges filed against him.
The lawyer for accused child molester John Burbine has asked a judge to dismiss eight of the 100 charges Burbine is facing, saying his own client reached a "level of deviancy and perversion" unanticipated by the law, given the very young age of the victims. Attorney Bill Barabino has filed a motion to dismiss six counts of aggravated rape of a child and two counts of dissemination of matter harmful to minors. This would still leave Burbine facing some 92 counts. At least one of Burbine's alleged victims is from Newton, according to officials. Burbine's wife, Marian, faces additional charges of reckless endangerment of a child for operating an illegal day care center in Wakefield where many of the victims' families were clients. Following …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
State audit finds 119 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders living at addresses registered as child care providers.
A new report from State Auditor Suzanne Bump suggests that a surprisingly large number of sex offenders statewide may be living in properties also used as childcare facilities. According to the report, the recent audit found 119 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders living at addresses that were also registered with the state as child care providers. The audit took place over 15 months from July 2010 through September 2011. “While we recognize that all 119 may not pose a problem because some of the information in the sex offender registry may be outdated, we believe that routinely conducting this match will serve to better ensure the safety of children in (Department of Early Education and Care’s) programs,” stated the report. Meanwhile, the Auditor…
Burbine is already facing nearly 100 charges involving child sex abuse in Middlesex County and at least one alleged victim is from Newton.
Accused serial child sex abuser John Burbine is now reportedly facing additional charges in Essex County. According to a Wednesday Salem News report, an Essex County grand jury has indicted Burbine on charges of indecent assault and battery and child rape. The charges stem from a new accuser, a boy from Saugus, who alleges Burbine abused him between May 1990 to January 1994. The alleged incidents occurred in Saugus. The accuser reportedly came forward after seeing the initial media coverage in the case. The Essex County District Attorney's Office and Saugus Police investigated the allegations, according to the Salem News. An arraignment date has not yet been set on the new charges. In Middlesex County, Burbine is already facing 100 counts …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Marian Burbine is facing six counts of reckless endangerment of a child, and two counts of operating an unlicensed day care business.
Marian Burbine, the wife of accused serial child molester John Burbine, now has an expected trial date of August 9. The Burbines are accused of running an illegal daycare based out of Wakefield, Mass., where John Burbine allegedly abused at least a dozen children who attended the daycare center. At least one of those alleged victims is from Newton, officials say. John Burbine faces nearly 100 counts of child sex abuse charges stemming from the alleged abuse carried out at the couple's daycare center. Meanwhile, Marian Burbine faces six counts of reckless endangerment of a child and two counts of operating an unlicensed day care business. During Marian Burbine's latest appearance in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday, Marian Burbine's …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and State Sen. Barry Feingold believe the proposal would better protect children from predators.
Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and State Senator Barry Feingold (D-Andover) have teamed up to propose new legislation that would allow authorities to seize personal property in child sex abuse cases. According to an announcement from Koutoujian's office, the proposed legislation would allow authorities, with court permission, to take items such as cameras, cell phones and computers that are used in child pornography or enticement of minors cases. The full press release from Koutoujian's office is included in the .pdf section to the right. The bill comes in the wake of the ongoing John Burbine child sex abuse case. Burbine, a former Wakefield resident, is facing more than 100 counts of child sex abuse stemming from his work at …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Marian and John Burbine are accused of running an illegal day care where alleged sex crimes were committed.
The latest court date has been delayed for Marian Burbine, the wife of a Wakefield man accused of more than 100 counts of child sex abuse. Marian Burbine, who is accused of running an illegal day care with her husband John Burbine, will appear in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on Thursday, March 21 for a pre-trial conference. Her latest court date had initially been set for Wednesday, Feb. 13. Marian Burbine is charged with six counts of reckless endangerment of a child and two counts of running an illegal day care business at the former Waterfall Education Center in Wakefield. She has been under house arrest in Wakefield since late last year. Her husband, John, has pleaded not guilty to about 100 counts involving the sexual abuse of …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Shana Rowan, executive director of USA Families Advocating an Intelligent Registry, provided this letter to the editor in light of recent media coverage and legislative proposals surrounding the John Burbine case.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, January 29
By now, all of Massachusetts and much of the country has heard about the gruesome allegations against John Burbine; a man accused of videotaping himself sexually abusing 13 young children. He’s also a Level 1 registered sex offender, which has understandably led lawmakers to respond with proposed legislation aimed at preventing such a crime from happening again. Unfortunately, as is often the case following high-profile child sex crimes, well-intentioned legislators respond with broad-brush proposals and political placebos that may make constituents feel good, but don’t actually do anything to protect the public. Because Burbine was classified as a low risk Level 1 offender, the knee jerk emotional response has been that there must …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
In wake of the John Burbine case, local lawmakers propose changes to the way sex offenders are registered.
If a new bill becomes law, you will be able to go to your local police station to find out who are the convicted sex offenders who live in your area. The legislation would not only make additional information on Level 1 sex offenders available to the public, but also would automatically classify anyone convicted of a sex offense against a child as a Level 2 offender. The legislation was filed by State Sen. Katherine Clark and State Rep. Paul Brodeur in response to the charges against John and Marian Burbine, both of Wakefield. John Burbine is facing 100 charges involving the sexual abuse of young children, while his wife is charged with multiple counts stemming from the illegal day care she operated. At least one of the alleged victims is …
ltm
10:45 am on Thursday, May 9, 2013
John Burbine and I believe another, Marian Burbine who allegedly facilitated, at the least, John Burbine’s propensity to sexually assault babies and children is an extremely uncommon role for any sex offender or accomplice on any tier of the registry.. Considering Mr. Burbine to be a level one sex offender and a family goes to the Sheriff’s office making inquiries about Mr. Burbine; why didn't … more ›