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 Woburn. “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 how last summer a parent came to the station asking for information Level 1 sex offenders – and was …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Former Wakefield resident facing 100 child sex charges in Middlesex County also has case in Essex County after accuser came forward.
Accused child molester John Burbine has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 in Essex County. 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 after a male accuser came forward with allegations against Burbine shortly after learning of his arrest late last year. He has been held at the Billerica House of Correction since around that time. At least one Woburn child is reportedly one of Burbine's alleged victims. A spokeswoman for the Essex County District Attorney's office, Carrie Kimball-Monahan, told Wakefield Patch that this accuser is a male and that his allegations …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
State audit finds 119 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders living at addresses registered as child care providers. Also, background checks not being done in some cases.
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 …
Friday, March 22, 2013
The wife of accused child molester John Burbine made a court appearance on Wednesday, March 20.
The trial of Marian Burbine, the wife of accused serial child molester John Burbine, is not expected to start on Aug. 9. Appearing with his client at a Wednesday, March 20 hearing at Middlesex Superior Court, attorney John Ruehrwein told the court that he was seeking additional time because of the large amount of evidence associated with the case. The previous trial date for Marian Burbine had been June 25th. At least one Woburn child is reportedly one of Burbine's alleged victims. Marian Burbine is due back in court on April 25 for an evidence suppression hearing. A pre-trial conference hearing is set for July 30. Marian Burbine and her husband were the proprietors of the former Waterfall Education Center, which offered tutoring and …
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 comes in response to 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. John Burbine was classified as a Level 1 sex offender after a 1989 case involving several young …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Wakefield resident John Burbine is facing more than 100 counts of child sexual abuse. He pleaded not guilty last month and his next court action is a motion to dismiss in April.
John Burbine is expected to go to trial in December to face 100 counts involving the sexual abuse of children, according to the office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone. At least one Woburn child is reportedly one of Burbine's alleged victims. A spokeswoman for the DA's office reported that a tentative trial date of December 10th has been set for Burbine. His next court proceeding is April 13th when his attorney, John Barabino of Wakefield, is expected to file a motion to dismiss. Burbine pleaded not guilty last month to more than 100 charges involving the sex abuse of children, one of whom was as young as 8 days old. A separate Boston Herald article quoted Barabino outside Woburn Superior Courthouse Tuesday morning as saying …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Mass. Senate Republican Leader Bruce Tarr plans to introduce legislation in January.
Senate Republicans expect to file comprehensive legislation during the new session aimed at reforming how information about sex offenders is shared between law enforcement and other officials. The bill is a response to the ongoing case involving Wakefield resident John Burbine and some 100 counts of child sex abuse he is facing. His wife, Marian, is also facing charges in the case for running an illegal daycare and for reckless endangerment. Burbine’s original classification suggested his risk of re-offense was low, and the public would not benefit from the disclosure of his information; however, subsequent facts have proven this assessment was inadequate and needed to be adjusted accordingly. Since 1989, Burbine has been the subject of…
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
John Burbine was arraigned Wednesday morning and pled not guilty to numerous charges. He is due back in court Jan. 15.
John Burbine pled not guilty to 100 child sex abuse charges at his arraignment Wednesday morning in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. The Wakefield man was arrested earlier this year and charged with numerous abuse violations involving children primarily under the age of 3, including at least one Woburn victim. Burbine spent much of the hearing looking straight ahead behind glass in a separate room, answering questions primarily with one-word responses. Unlike in the booking photo released by the District Attorney's office earlier in the month, his hair was almost completely white, with black eyebrows. He was accompanied by his attorney, Bill Barabino of Wakefield. The defense waived a dangerousness hearing in this case, which means that…
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
John Burbine of Wakefield to be arraigned Wednesday morning at Woburn Superior Court on nearly 95 child sex abuse charges.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Wakefield man at the center of one of the worst child sex abuse cases in recent memory will be arraigned Wednesday morning at Woburn Superior Court. Burbine, 49, faces a total of 95 charges stemming from the alleged abuse of children receiving day care or tutoring services from his wife's business - which was not completely registered. At least one Woburn child is among the victims. Marian Burbine, 46, will make her own court appearance on December 20 for a pre-trial hearing. She faces six counts of reckless endangerment of a child, and two counts of operating an unlicensed day care business. Mrs. Burbine has reportedly been under house arrest in Wakefield while MyFoxBoston reported over the weekend that her husband is now in the …
Friday, December 7, 2012
A Wakefield tutor who faces numerous child sex charges was a Level 1 sex offender.
News spread quickly through the region yesterday about the indictment of a Wakefield couple for numerous charges stemming from an illegal day care operation where graphic child sexual abuse occurred. The Middlesex County District Attorney's office alleges that at least 13 children were abused while under the care of John Burbine, 49, at the Waterfall Education Center, which offered tutoring and day care. Burbine was a level 1 sex offender, which means he had been convicted of a sex-related crime but was deemed among those least likely to re-offend. Sex offenders are classified according to the degree of dangerousness they pose to the public and their likelihood to re-offend. A Level 1 offender has been classified as a “low risk.” A Level 2…
C.E. Jones
11:46 am on Thursday, April 4, 2013
I often wondered about how this can be happening. I am aware that several YMCA facilities have dormitory style housing that recent parolees including those who committed MANY DANGEROUS CRIMES including VIOLENT SEX OFFENSES live at. Along with this housing unit we all know that the YMCA also has a large clientele of children which include those who attend day care... I bet there are policies and … more ›