Alleged accessory to murder surrenders

A South Boston man wanted as an accessory after the fact to murder turned himself in to authorities Tuesday after learning police had issued a warrant for his arrest, the Suffolk district attorney's office said yesterday. Gregory Hagan , 17, is accused of hiding two guns for Tyrone D. Dubose , 23. Dubose is facing murder charges for allegedly killing 29-year-old Willie Reynoso in South Boston in November. One of the guns Hagan allegedly hid has been tied to Reynoso's slaying through ballistics testing, authorities said. Hagan pleaded not guilty and was held on $1,000 cash bail. Dubose was arraigned Tuesday on first-degree murder charges and is being held without bail.

A former secretary and administrative assistant at the Children's Glaucoma Foundation has pleaded guilty to embezzling from the nonprofit and from the doctor who heads it, the office of US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said yesterday. Karen L. Sicher , 45, formerly of Methuen and who now lives in Pennsylvania, is to be sentenced April 18 on 10 counts of uttering forged securities, 10 counts of healthcare program theft, and six counts of income tax evasion. Sullivan's office will allege that Sicher stole at least $500,000 between September 2000 and November 2005 from the foundation and the doctor, a specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, said spokeswoman Samantha Martin . Prosecutors say Sicher stole and forged checks belonging to the charity, deposited the money in her own bank account, and failed to report the income on her federal tax return. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the forgery and theft counts and five years and a $250,000 fine on each count of tax evasion.

LYNN

State Police yesterday identified two young men who died Tuesday after the vehicle they were traveling in reportedly sped into the Nahant Rotary in Lynn, hit a curb, and rolled over. Shawn Bates , 27, and William L. Parish , 26, both of Lynn, were not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle, and died at the scene after the 11 p.m. crash, police said. Bates was driving a 2002 Honda Odyssey north on Route 1A, and Parish was the only passenger. "The accident is still under investigation," said Trooper Kara England , a State Police spokeswoman. "But it does appear that excessive speed was a factor."

WESTFIELD

The Westfield State College presidential search committee has trimmed the list of candidates to lead the school to five, including a local politician . The semifinalists announced on Tuesday are Roger W. Bowen, former president of the State University of New York at New Paltz; Nancy Kleniewski, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bridgewater State College; Patrick J. Schloss, president of Northern State University in South Dakota; Rodney D. Smith, former president of Ramapo College of New Jersey; and Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the seven-term mayor of Westfield. The college is seeking a replacement for Vicky Carwein, who resigned last year after two years on the job. The semifinalists will be interviewed, and the committee will then recommend three finalists to trustees, who will make the final selection. (AP)

MONTPELIER

Vermont's new public health insurance program for the low-income and underinsured may not be as sought-after as officials expected. Originally, about 4,800 people were expected to sign up for Catamount Health during fiscal 2008, but only about 2,600 are now expected to, according to House Speaker Gaye Symington. Insurance companies are expected to make their proposals with rate schedules this fall. Enrollment would begin after that. (AP)

CONCORD, N.H.

A judge ruled yesterday that a convicted rapist should be evaluated for further time behind bars under the state's new sexual predator law. William Decato, who was to have been released from prison tomorrow, will be evaluated by psychiatric specialists to determine whether he should be civilly committed for as long as five years based on the risk that he will commit crimes. The panel has until Monday to rule. Decato, 50, will be held at the state's psychiatric unit , said Merrimack Attorney Dan St. Hilaire . Decato is the first convicted sex offender to be subject to the law, which took effect Jan. 1. (AP)