Patterson Back In Court For Pre-Trial Conference

Former Tewksbury Recreation director charged with mishandling department finances.

Roy Patterson, the former Tewksbury Recreation director, was back in Lowell District Court on Wednesday, Jan. 30 Patterson who faces one count of larceny under $250 and violation of the conflict-of-interest law, appeared for a pretrial conference, according to an article appearing in the Lowell Sun. Patterson is scheduled to be back in court again on March 27 and, if a plea bargain cannot be reached, a trial date would be set at that time, according to the article. Patterson was originally arraigned back in September. Patterson and his assistant, Lauren Bibo-Morris, were fired by Town Manager Richard Montuori two years ago after irregularities were discovered in Recreation Department finances. Investigators allege Bibo-Morris embezzled …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (1)

Upcoming Court Dates For Major Tewksbury Criminal Cases

There are several ongoing criminal cases with strong ties to Tewksbury. We have put together a listing of upcoming court dates for each.

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. 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, arrests were made in April, 2011. 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. …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (5)

linda

10:36 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013

Kathleen, You should realize at your age that these newspapers don't get the facts right. Unless you have first hand knowledge of this case, you should keep your comments to yourself. These alleged girls made contact ON LINE with this young man. Parents also need to monitor the dirty little pictures their daughters are sending out to multiple young men. Several young men in town are in this …   more ›

Patterson Pleads Not Guilty To Larceny, Conflict of Interest

Former Parks and Recreation director is accused of padding the time cards of employees with phantom hours and using the extra cash to pay workers not employed by the department, including his son.

Two years after an investigation was launched which led to the shutdown of the Tewksbury Parks and Recreation Department, former director Roy Patterson was in court Thursday to answer allegations that he engaged in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement. Specifically, Patterson is charged with larceny under $250 and ethics violations under the State's Conflict of Interest laws. He pled not guilty to both charges and was released on personal recognizance by Lowell District Court Judge Thomas Brennan. He is scheduled to be back in court on Nov. 13 for pre-trial conferencing. Prosecutors allege Patterson padded the time cards of department employees with extra hours. Those employees were paid their normal wages but the department was allocated …

•  25 Comments
• Photos (1)

Bibo Morris Pleads Not Guilty To Embezzlement Charges

Prosecutors say Roy Patterson blew the whistle on alleged theft by former Parks and Recreation business manager.

Lauren Bibo Morris, the former business manager for the Tewksbury Parks and Recreation Department was arraigned Wednesday on larceny charges in connection with an alleged pattern of theft from the town’s recreation center. Morris, 30, of Tewksbury was arraigned in Lowell District Court on two counts of larceny over $250.  Lowell District Court Judge Elizabeth Cremens released Morris on personal recognizance with conditions to stay away from and have no contact with witnesses or Tewksbury town employees. “This defendant, Lauren Morris, allegedly violated her position of authority within the town of Tewksbury and stole funds intended for the town’s youth who could have benefited from the center,” said District Attorney Gerry Leone.  “We …

•  21 Comments
• Photos (1)

You Ask ... Patch Answers

Is Accused Former Recreation Director Collecting His Pension?

Readers want to know if Roy Patterson, fired from his position of Parks and Recreation director and facing a charge of larceny, is collecting his pension from the town.

Question: Two of our readers recently e-mailed in the same question. Both wanted to know if Roy Patterson is collecting his pension from the town. Patterson, the town's longtime Parks and Recreation director, was fired in early 2011 in the wake of an investigation by the Tewksbury Police Department and the Middlesex County District Attorney's office into financial mismanagement in the department. Patterson is scheduled to be arraigned in Lowell District Court on Sept. 20 on one count of larceny under $250 and one count of count of violation of the municipal employees' financial conflict of interest law. Patterson's assistant at Parks and Recreation, Lauren Bibo Morris, was fired in December 2010, around the same time the department was …

•  22 Comments
• Photos (1)

New Details Emerging In Parks and Recreation Embezzlement

Court records indicate evidence of drug addiction, no-show jobs.

Court records detailing the prosecution's case against two former Tewksbury municipal employees reveal allegations of drug addiction and illegal payroll practices. Former Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Lauren Bibo Morris is accused of embezzling more than $50,000 for department coffers between 2009 and 2010. Morris, who was fired around the time the investigation was announced in December, 2010, faces two counts of larceny over $250. Former Director Roy Patterson, placed on administrative leave in December 2010 and then fired three months later, is charged with one count of larceny under $250 and violating the state's conflict of interest laws. According to an article appearing in the Lowell Sun, Morris admitted to police that she…

•  68 Comments
• Photos (1)

Morris, Patterson Face Larceny Charges In Parks And Recreation Scandal

Prosecutors allege Morris stole more than $51,000 over a two-year span.

After an investigation of more than 18 months, charges have been filed charges against two former Tewksbury Parks and Recreation Department employees in connection with an embezzlement scandal that shut down the department and forced the town to restructure how it offered recreation programs. Former Recreation Department Director Roy Patterson and administrative assistant Lauren Bibo Morris have been summonsed to appear in Lowell District Court to face charges on Sept. 12, according to article appearing in the Lowell Sun. According to a spokesperson in the office of District Attorney Gerry Leone, Tewksbury Police applied for criminal charges to be filed back in the spring and have been waiting for Clerk of the Courts to put the case on the…

•  73 Comments
• Photos (1)