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‘Dangerous’ Man Released by Superior Court
A Woburn man is home, awaiting trial on several sex crimes against children.
A convicted murderer charged with several sex crimes against children is living less than a mile away from two public schools.
Thomas L. Bergeron, 57, of 40 Tremont St. in Woburn, is awaiting trial and was released Friday on house arrest by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman.
According to court documents, Bergeron was arrested and charged in July with eight sexual crimes against children:
- Rape of a child with force (two counts);
- Rape of a child, statutory, aggravated (two counts);
- Indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 (three counts); and
- Obscene matter to a minor (one count).
Bergeron was arraigned in Woburn District Court July 13 and ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. At that time, court officials recorded that Bergeron’s complete case file was impounded and not available to the public.
A spokesman in the Middlesex District Attorney’s office said Wednesday that prosecutors believe Bergeron is a “danger” to the public and should be kept in jail until his trial.
“We had requested the dangerousness hearing in July and he was held under that,” said Stephanie Chelf Guyottee of the DA’s office. “During a bail review, the commonwealth asked that he continue to be held under that statute.”
But Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman ruled Friday that Bergeron was to be released “on conditions.”
According to officials, Bergeron is under house arrest and must wear a GPS-monitoring device. Other conditions include: He is allowed to go to work, as well as any legal and medical appointments. He is not allowed to make contact with the victim or the victim’s family members.
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Bergeron’s Tremont Street home is an estimated two-minute drive away and within walking distance to both the Goodyear Elementary School and Woburn Memorial High School. According to Google maps, Bergeron’s house is a half-mile from Goodyear and one mile from WMHS.
As of Aug. 22, 2012, Bergeron is not listed as a registered sex offender on the United States Department of Justice website.
A "Planned Massacre"
Over 38 years ago, Bergeron was living in Monroe, CT. On June 18, 1974, Bergeron, then 19, and an accomplice, David Stowe, then 18, of Sandy Hook, CT, shot and killed Christine Bergeron, 23. Laurence and Vera Bergeron, Thomas and Christine’s parents, were treated for superficial gunshot wounds.
At the time, police believed Bergeron and Stowe had intended to kill all three members of the family for “money and insurance.” According to United Press International reports at the time, “Police Chief Jack J. Tuffano said both Bergeron and Stowe admitted after questioning they planned to ‘wipe out the family and divide the insurance.’”
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges in August of 1974. But in December 1975, the men had changed their plea to guilty and were sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison for Christine’s murder. Bergeron was also convicted of assault in the first degree after shooting his parents. Officials called Bergeron and Stowe’s actions a “planned massacre of the family.”
Bergeron served jail time in Connecticut and was later released.
According to the U.S. Public Records Index, Bergeron has lived on Tremont Street in Woburn since at least 1994. Public records also indicate that his mother, Vera, died in February of 1997; his father, Laurence, died one month later.
In court again...
Bergeron will be in court again on Sept. 21 for an indigency hearing and Oct. 19 for a probable cause hearing. His attorney, John Osler of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, did not return Woburn Patch’s phone call Wednesday.
charles
6:38 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
SAD DAY! Do you have a photo of him you can post?
Tammy
7:14 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Yes...please provide a photo so the community knows what he looks like!
Joanne
2:06 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Yes please show a photo. My mother lives on that st. I was about to turn left and saw a bunny. I took out my camera and took.a couple pictures when a man walked up to my car window asking me sarcastically "are you ok?" I said yes, I lil a here. He again sarcastically said "oh you do, do you". I got posses and put my window.up and Fri e away. Next st over I got pulled over. for taking a picture of a rabbit!!
tina L
7:18 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
would love a photo of this man seeing that the children are getting ready to go back to school soon and apparently our system fails us once again. I can not believe a judge let him go, I believe in innocent until proven guilty but, you murdered someone and charges against a child and within distance to 2 schools. Really what is wrong with our system these days.......
Jean
7:22 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Please try and post a picture of this dangerous sexual predator. It is unfathomable that this judge would allow this person out on bail. I would hope that the state appeals this judge's decision and send him back to jail.
Gas all liberals
9:34 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
This judge should be tried as an accomplice to kiddie rape and murder. Absolutely Sickening. .
Anonymous
2:38 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
just so you know, both the judge Tutteman and the rapist are stonch Republicans, keep it away from politics, those of us affected by this don't need the politics they DO NOT help the victim, and if anyone gets to kill him, It's gonna be me!
Athena
9:36 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
This is very disturbing news. I sincerely hope this doesnt turn into another Cinelli/Officer McGuire situation... if so I hope that judge is haunted forever by the decision to let Bergeron out 'on conditions'. Fairly certain 'conditions' dont mean much to criminals, considering laws mean nothing to them.
Earnhardt
6:06 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I agree wholeheartedly Athena!
Sue Sullivan
6:49 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I agree with Athena also!
Lc
9:50 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Just spoke to the court, calls need to be made to the DA victims advocates office to take action! Don't let this one go!!!
Danielle Masterson
10:01 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I am looking into obtaining a photo to include with this story. Due to much of the case paperwork being impounded by the court, it is difficult to find. But we will continue to do our best to inform the public, as always!
Sarah O'Connor
10:54 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Please post a photo...if he is within walking distance of the high school and Goodyear he is also within walking distance of Shamrock and Malcolm White. This is unacceptable.
Marisol
10:58 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I bet that judge doesn't live anywhere near Tremont St. Absolutely ridiculous!!
Shannon Bettencourt
11:18 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
We need a pitcure so we could look out for this person . This is just sickening what is this world coming to !
Matthew Doncel
11:24 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I would like to know why Mass Judicial Department view these pedophiles as victims? They never have a huge bail or long sentences. I am about had it with these sick people able to live on the streets after ruining people and family lives. Sex crimes are never view as a bad thing. It just makes me sick that these people get off the way they do.
Sara Hayden
12:25 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thank you for posting this! I live around the corner and had no idea and have taken my kids there on Halloween!!! Please keep us updated.
Deb M
1:07 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Danielle,
I am sure there is a picture of this man when he was booked for these charges...
This judge is not looking out for the children of Woburn, A very sad day!
Annemarie
2:28 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
ugh. scarey stuff, but isn't he innocent until proven guiilty?
that said, he's been living in woburn for many many years. gotta wonder how much "damage" he's done before he was finally caught :(
Danielle Masterson
2:57 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thank you for all the comments, everyone! I did try to get a photo, but because the paperwork (including all booking paperwork/photos) is impounded by the court, I cannot. With the case still pending, there is a chance that a published photo could damage the trial, as well.
Moni M.
4:16 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
What Judge would allow this man to reside this close to any school or child care facility considering the severity of his crimes! She should be disbarred! Not to mention there is Kindercare on Washington St!
Catherine Lichoulas
7:42 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
And let's not forget that if he is a "mile from Woburn Memorial High School", then he is also a mile from the Malcolm White Elementary School! The White School backs up to WMHS!
Kerry
5:16 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Please email this article to everyone you know in Woburn that have kids.
They may not subscribe to Patch.
This article and his picture should be posted on the Woburn school websites or maybe via mass email from the school to all parents.
Is he a registered sex offender on the Woburn town website?
We really need a photo.
How can he be out of jail in the first place after murdering his sister and attempted murder of parents? He is clearly dangerous and mentally unstable. Should be locked up, that judge is making a huge mistake.
Danielle Masterson
5:19 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thank you for encouraging people to read Woburn Patch, Kerry! This man is not a registered sex offender because he is awaiting trial on the sex crime charges. Because of the impending trial, we cannot publish a photo on this site. As for the murder charges, he served his sentence for the crime in Connecticut.
Roth Gill
5:22 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
15-30 for murder? So, I guess after 20 years the prison parole board thought he was ok to be let out? Drug dealers get more time than that! The guy was convicted of premeditated murder.....of his family. Guilty or not for the child rape, this guy should not be out on the street.
Earnhardt
5:42 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
These touchy- feely judges are more concerned with protecting the criminals rights... They have feelings too! Just another example of what's wrong in MAssachusetts
TW Lock
7:37 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thanks, Danielle, for the great reporting on this. Regardless of our political leanings - left, right, or center - we all love our children and find news of this sort troubling. It's difficult to understand why these things happen or who is to blame, but what we can do is keep our eyes open and watch over all our kids, together.
Conrad castillo
10:00 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
what is this worlds coming to. We rely on a system that does not care about it's children. Why then do we even bother to vote? Our justice system is a joke.
Jean
12:05 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Danielle can you see if you can get his picture from the state of CT? Since he was imprisoned we might get his mugshot from jail.
Jerry
8:21 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Maybe someone should contact a local news station and really make an example out of the judge and Mr Bergeron. I cannot see why this is not on television.
Kerry
10:26 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
I agree with Jerry.
Fox does a good job with these types of stories.
Danielle, is it ok to forward this article to Fox news tips?
Monica
10:27 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Good call Jerry - I just submitted a "tip" to fox but I'm at work and can't be placed on hold.... It's so good to see that so many people in the community care about our children and their safety! My heart goes out to the victim(s) and the family(s) - As the mom of one of the children headed for the Goodyear in September I will be ridiculously diligent not only with my son and his safety but other children in the neighborhood as well - It's nice to know that so many others will be too!!
Conrad castillo
9:01 am on Sunday, August 26, 2012
We in Woburn have a great police department. I know that they will be patrolling the routes the kids take to and form school. The sad thing is the "What ifs". I pray that all will be well with our children.
christal glass
12:07 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
So the safety of the accused is more important then the safety of children. Good call to the judge who let him out. Maybe the judge needs his head examined. Since his address was posted what would stop someone from that neighborhood to watch the house and take a picture when he leaves and then posting the picture. would that effect his case?
barb
11:45 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
i know im very late getting in on this, but i just found it by looking through posts from my old high school, masuk, monroe, ct. i had no idea that these guys were ever released. let alone, gone on to commit further crimes. i remember the day that tom bergeron, who was always asking me out, told me he was gonna kill his parents. i was 15 or 16 at the time. he was always kind of queer, but i surely didnt believe him. the very next day, he shot and killed his mentally handicapped sister, but only wounded both his parents. only... nice word to describe the shooting of two very nice people. i knew that both boys got sent away for a very long time, and truthfully, havent thought of them in years! then i see this! what kind of judge lets him walk free??? my thoughts and prayers go out to all who had to encounter him in any way. can anyone tell me what happened at his trial?