Controversial Massachusetts blogger Aidan Timothy Kearney, who is known as “Turtleboy,” was arrested by police on Tuesday and expected to appear in Dedham District Court. Special prosecutor Kenneth Mello confirmed the arrest and said additional information would be released at the Tuesday afternoon court proceeding. Last week, Kearney appeared in court to face new charges, including conspiracy charges, in connection with his frequent postings about the Karen Read murder case.Kearney was originally arrested in October on nine counts — one count of conspiracy and eight counts of intimidation of a witness, juror, police or court official — but Mello first hinted last month that other charges were coming.A Norfolk County grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Kearney, Mello said. That includes eight counts of intimidation of a witness, five counts of picketing a witness and three counts of conspiracy to intimidate a witness. Kearney pleaded not guilty to the new charges. Kearney has blogged prolifically in recent months about the murder case against Karen Read. The Mansfield woman is accused of hitting John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her vehicle outside of a home in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022. Prosecutors say Read and O’Keefe had both been drinking that night. Read and her defense team claim she is the victim of a coverup.During Kearney’s arraignment, Mello argued that Kearney has not followed no-contact orders with individuals connected to Read’s case. Mello has not requested a dangerousness hearing, but has not ruled out requesting one in the future. “It’s clear that Mr. Kearney is encouraging his minions, his followers in the context of his blogs, YouTubes, etc., to continue to harass witnesses,” Mello said. During Kearney’s arraignment on the new charges, Mello asked the judge to place restrictions on him. But the judge said he could finding nothing in state law giving him the power to do so, not unless Kearney agreed to the restrictions or the prosecution asked for bail.”Clearly Mr. Mello did not come prepared with any statues to back up his argument. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights,” Kearney said outside court. Kearney remains free with the only restriction being he not commit any crimes. The prosecutor said if he does, he’ll be brought back to court and possibly sent to jail.Read is scheduled to go on trial in March. (Video below)After Kearney’s initial arrest, a civilian dispatcher with the Avon Police Department was placed on paid administrative leave. Avon police Chief Jeffrey Bukunt said the unnamed dispatcher was placed on leave pending the outcome of investigations into alleged “inappropriate and illegal use of law enforcement database.”Kearney’s indictments identify Jannell Webb as the co-conspirator in all three of the conspiracy counts. Court records show the three felony charges were also filed against Webb on Wednesday. Through many of Read’s pretrial hearings, Kearney sat in the courtroom a few rows behind the defense table. He was often visible in the background while attorneys spoke at a courtroom podium in streaming coverage of the high-profile hearings.Kearney previously lost his bid to have the court lift an order requiring that he stay away from witnesses and alleged victims in the Read case, and a judge denied an emergency motion in which he sought the return of electronic devices seized during the search of his home.
Controversial Massachusetts blogger Aidan Timothy Kearney, who is known as “Turtleboy,” was arrested by police on Tuesday and expected to appear in Dedham District Court.
Special prosecutor Kenneth Mello confirmed the arrest and said additional information would be released at the Tuesday afternoon court proceeding.
Last week, Kearney appeared in court to face new charges, including conspiracy charges, in connection with his frequent postings about the Karen Read murder case.
Kearney was originally arrested in October on nine counts — one count of conspiracy and eight counts of intimidation of a witness, juror, police or court official — but Mello first hinted last month that other charges were coming.
A Norfolk County grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Kearney, Mello said. That includes eight counts of intimidation of a witness, five counts of picketing a witness and three counts of conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
Kearney pleaded not guilty to the new charges.
Kearney has blogged prolifically in recent months about the murder case against Karen Read. The Mansfield woman is accused of hitting John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her vehicle outside of a home in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022. Prosecutors say Read and O’Keefe had both been drinking that night. Read and her defense team claim she is the victim of a coverup.
During Kearney’s arraignment, Mello argued that Kearney has not followed no-contact orders with individuals connected to Read’s case. Mello has not requested a dangerousness hearing, but has not ruled out requesting one in the future.
“It’s clear that Mr. Kearney is encouraging his minions, his followers in the context of his blogs, YouTubes, etc., to continue to harass witnesses,” Mello said.
During Kearney’s arraignment on the new charges, Mello asked the judge to place restrictions on him. But the judge said he could finding nothing in state law giving him the power to do so, not unless Kearney agreed to the restrictions or the prosecution asked for bail.
“Clearly Mr. Mello did not come prepared with any statues to back up his argument. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights,” Kearney said outside court.
Kearney remains free with the only restriction being he not commit any crimes. The prosecutor said if he does, he’ll be brought back to court and possibly sent to jail.
Read is scheduled to go on trial in March. (Video below)
After Kearney’s initial arrest, a civilian dispatcher with the Avon Police Department was placed on paid administrative leave. Avon police Chief Jeffrey Bukunt said the unnamed dispatcher was placed on leave pending the outcome of investigations into alleged “inappropriate and illegal use of law enforcement database.”
Kearney’s indictments identify Jannell Webb as the co-conspirator in all three of the conspiracy counts. Court records show the three felony charges were also filed against Webb on Wednesday.
Through many of Read’s pretrial hearings, Kearney sat in the courtroom a few rows behind the defense table. He was often visible in the background while attorneys spoke at a courtroom podium in streaming coverage of the high-profile hearings.
Kearney previously lost his bid to have the court lift an order requiring that he stay away from witnesses and alleged victims in the Read case, and a judge denied an emergency motion in which he sought the return of electronic devices seized during the search of his home.