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Since 2003 Hopkinton Online Press^TM "The News Starts Here!" 24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 Editor@HopNews.com 508-435-5534 Updated: July 07, 2010 07:31:12 PM

Two Former Lowell City Employees Arraigned On Larceny Charges

LOWELL – Two former Lowell City employees from the Lowell Regional Water Utility were arraigned on charges in connection with allegedly stealing gasoline and motor oil, as well as the video camera that depicted their crimes, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Ronald Mercier, 29, of Dracut and Keith Murphy, 32, of Amesbury were arraigned in Lowell District Court today on charges of larceny over $250 and larceny under $250. Lowell District Court Judge James Barretto released the defendants with the conditions that they stay away from the Lowell Regional Water Utility and have no contact with any witnesses.  

Their next court date is September 30 for a pre-trial conference.

According to authorities, on April 22, the Lowell Police Department initiated an investigation after receiving reports of employees at the Lowell Regional Water Utility (LRWU) taking gasoline and motor oil without authorization for their own personal use. The Supervisor of the LRWU provided police with surveillance video that showed Murphy carrying two plastic containers with dark fluid on April 16, believed to be motor oil, to his personal vehicle on two separate occasions that one day. On April 20, at approximately 9 am, LRWU staff reinstalled and activated the surveillance camera. When staff returned at approximately 3 pm that day, they discovered that the camera had been stolen.

Investigators spoke to witnesses and during the course of one interview, the witness reported that on April 9, he saw Mercier filling a 5 gallon gas can and then place it between Murphy’s personal vehicle and another employee’s vehicle. The witness stated that later in the day, he observed Murphy take the same gas can, place it in his personal vehicle and depart the property.

Both defendants have since received a notice of termination from the City of Lowell.

These charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Felicia Sullivan.

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Last Update for this page:  07/07/2010 07:31:12 PM

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