Upcoming Court Dates For Major Tewksbury Criminal Cases

There are several high-profile criminal cases presently in the court system with strong ties to Tewksbury or Tewksbury residents. Here is an update on the status of these cases and the next court dates for each of the individuals involved.

The Murder of Johnny McCabe

McCabe was a 15-year-old Tewksbury High student back in 1969 when he was allegedly grabbed off Main Street by three other TMHS students, beaten, driven to a vacant lot in Lowell and bound in such a way that he died of asphyxiation.

After being a cold case for more than 40 years,

Walter Shelley -- The Tewksbury resident, 61, will be the first of two defendants to stand trial for 1st degree murder for McCabe's death. The trial begins in Lowell Superior Court on Nov. 6.

Michael Ferreira -- The Salem, NH resident, 59, is scheduled to go on trial on charges of first degree murder and lying to a Grand Jury in December in Lowell Superior Court.

Edward Brown -- The Londonderry, NH man, 60, is charged with manslaughter in connection with McCabe's death. He is expected to be the star witness against both Shelley and Ferreira. No date has yet been set for his trial. It is expected that after he testifies against the other two defendants, Brown will plead guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Alleged Cyber Sex Predator

Thomas Hutchinson -- Hutchinson, now 20, is accused of Prosecuters allege that Hutchinson then blackmailed some of these girls using the photos and videos as leverage, into meeting him and engaging in sexual acts.

(3 counts), indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 (2 counts), indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, posing a child in a state of sexual conduct (9 counts), posing a child in a state of nudity (9 counts), possession of child pornography (15 counts), dissemination of visual matter of a child in sexual conduct (3 counts), dissemination of visual matter of a child in a state of nudity, and dissemination of matter harmful to a minor (2 counts).

Hutchinson will appear in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on Thursday, Oct. 4 for an evidenciary discovery hearing.

Tewksbury Parks and Recreation Scandal

The Parks and Recreation Department was closed in December 2010, in the wake of an investigation by Tewksbury Police and the Middlesex County District Attorney regarding embezzlement and fiscal mismanagement in the department. Former Director Roy Patterson and former Business Manager Lauren Bibo Morris were arrainged on charges relating to the scandal earlier this year.

Roy Patterson -- Patterson has been charged with one count of larceny under $250 and one count of violating Conflict of Interest laws. He is scheduled to be back in Lowell District Court on Nov. 13 for Pre-trial Conferencing.

Lauren Bibo-Morris -- Bibo Morris is charged with two counts of larceny over $250. to feed a prescription drug habit. She is scheduled to be back in Lowell District Court on Nov. 6 for Pre-Trial Conferencing.