Local Activist Given Two And A Half Year Sentence

[Amber]

After an ongoing investigation plus indictment and court, why is the public JUST hearing about this now? Local media was tipped off and ignored it for months.

http://westford.patch.com/articles/l...-year-sentence

Local resident and activist Peter Severance was given a 2 1/2 year sentence on Thursday for assault and battery of a child.

Local resident and environmental activist Peter Severance was given a 2 1/2 year sentence with an additional five year probationary sentence for assault and battery on a child on Thursday. The maximum allowable sentence under Commonwealth law is no more than 10 years in state prision or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years.

Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Elissa Torto read a letter from the family of the victim during the hearing at the Middlesex County Superior Courthouse in Woburn, stating that the incident last fall between Severance and the victim, who was under 14 years old at the time, "is a life lasting nightmare."

“This defendant has admitted to indecently assaulting the 9-year-old victim, violating the trust that the victim and her parent's placed in him," said Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone. “We commend the judge for the defendant’s sentence, ensuring that this defendant is held accountable and must now register as a sex offender. Children are our most vulnerable victims and deserve our greatest protection.”

Severance, 58, who now lives at 17 Westford Street in Chelmsford, pleaded guilty during his trial late last month and had no further comment to the court on Thursday.

In recent years, Severance has been active in local politics, most notably serving on the Comprehensive Master Plan Committee, and the Board of Directors for the Westford Conservation Trust, leaving the board of the Trust on Thursday night.

While Conservation Trust president Bill Morton didn't know Severance very well outside of Trust's meetings, he recalls that the work Severance did related to Westford's water.

"(Severance) led water quality testing in Westford's rivers and streams, and it was very valuable work that was done," said Morton. "I don't know if someone else will step up to do those things , and I'm not sure what affect it will have (if it's not done.) It's very important stuff, I certainly hope someone continues his work."

In addition to the sentence, Severance was given five years probation, and would be required to wear a GPS bracelet while in public and would be prohibited from any contact with the family of the victim or any proximity to their residence or Westford schools.

[Kendra]

Seriously? We hear about all kinds of misdeeds, loooong before sentencing, how and why was this kept quiet until now?

[Amber]

Kendra, I wish I knew. I heard about it when it happened - and tips were sent to various media organizations, but none chose to report on it. Even today, it was just in Patch (my apologies to AS), but the Sun didn't even touch it.

[Ghostdog]

Someone is connected!

[west4]

That guy was!

[Amber]

Nobody should ever be that well connected.

[west4]

Welcome to Westford.

[dweir]

Maybe the victim's family preferred it to remain quiet.

[The Westford Gazette]

Wow, that is awful and rather surprising.

Severance was always a zealot and was super intense about environmental issues, but didn't peg him as pedophile. He certainly was hated by many people involved in town government but that was cause he kept people on their toes about actually having to follow pesky enviro. laws. Although he could definitely do shifty tactics himself.

Now he's ruined his life and damaged the life of his three kids and the victim. Pretty sad situation.

[Robo]

More Westford dirt swept under the rug. It is amazing that the Sun didn't cover this but they cover Olsen's firing and re-hiring of a bus driver and they call that "leadership".