New England in brief
A former Middlesex County probate register who has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from cash and copy machines at the Registry of Deeds in Cambridge and from his campaign funds is set to be sentenced. John Buonomo, 57, is to face a Woburn Superior Court judge today on charges brought in separate cases by state Attorney General Martha Coakley and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone. Last year, the Newton man was charged with 18 counts of breaking and entering into a depository, eight counts of theft of public property by a county officer, and eight counts of larceny under $250. In March, he was charged with the theft of more than $100,000 in campaign funds. Buonomo resigned from his position in 2008. (AP)
BROCKTON
Parents due back in court over fatal OD
Parents accused of giving their daughter a fatal overdose of prescription drugs are due in Brockton Superior Court on Thursday for a pretrial hearing. Rebecca Riley, 4, was found dead on the floor of her parents’ bedroom in Hull in December 2006. Prosecutors allege that Carolyn and Michael Riley overmedicated the girl to keep her quiet. The Rileys’ lawyers say they were only following the orders of their daughter’s psychiatrist, who had diagnosed the girl with bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The defense contends she died of pneumonia. The hearing is on pretrial motions. (AP)BOSTON
Lawmakers press to raise dropout age
The Legislature is taking aim at the state’s high school dropout rate. Each year some 10,000 students quit school, a choice they can make without parental consent once they turn 16. They can quit as young as 14 for medical or employment reasons if the school superintendent agrees or to perform nonwage work at home. A series of bills the Joint Committee on Education will discuss tomorrow propose raising the dropout age to 18, the age set in 19 states. Representative Marty Walz, a Democrat and the committee’s House chairwoman, said keeping children in school those extra two years vastly increases their chances for success. (AP)Police suspect arson at court building
Police are investigating a possible arson at Dorchester District Court. Officers found a broken window and charring on the floor of a courtroom on Washington Street about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Police found a glass bottle with a wick and a gelatin-like substance on the floor near the charring, authorities said. The fire alarm did not sound, and the building sustained minimal damage, police said. The incident happened sometime between 5 p.m. Friday and when the officers responded Saturday, a Boston police spokesman said. The hazardous material unit removed the glass bottle for testing and fingerprinting, police said. There were no arrests as of late yesterday afternoon.Lawmakers try to reconcile veterans bills
House and Senate lawmakers hope to wrap up debate on a final version of a veterans’ benefits bill. Both chambers have passed separate bills that include many of the same elements, including giving cash bonuses to military personnel who serve more than one tour and allowing soldiers stationed overseas to cast ballots electronically. Both chambers also agree on provisions encouraging state agencies to contract out services to businesses owned by disabled veterans. Lawmakers are hoping to get the bill to Governor Deval Patrick’s desk by Veterans Day, which is Wednesday. (AP)Detention hearing in alleged terror plot
Federal prosecutors plan to ask a judge this week to keep a Massachusetts man locked up as he awaits trial in an alleged terror plot. A detention hearing is scheduled Thursday for Tarek Mehanna, 27, a Sudbury man accused of conspiring with two other men to shoot people at malls and to kill two prominent US politicians. Authorities say Mehanna and the other men tried, but failed, to get into terrorist training camps in the Middle East. They are also accused of plotting to kill Americans in malls and US servicemen in Iraq. Mehanna is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, and other charges. (AP)
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