By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Athol, MA) The four suspects in the February Athol kidnapping case pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon in Franklin County Superior Court. James Murphy, April McCassie, and Ronald Mitchell of Athol and Marlene Hill of Orange were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, assault and battery, armed robbery, and intimidation to steal after a man came into the Athol Police Department on February 2nd reporting an assault and theft. Mitchell was released on personal recognizance, Murphy was held on a $2,000 bail, McCassie on $10,000 bail, and Hill was ordered to be held on $10,000 bail after her bail from Orange District Court was revoked due to a violation. Their next pretrial appearance is scheduled for September 20th.
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02/17/2023 Orange District Court Judge Laurie MacLeod set bail for three of the defendants in the Athol kidnapping case. On February 2nd one of the victims of the alleged assault reported the incident to the Athol police and six were arrested following an investigation.
In Tuesday’s dangerousness hearing, Franklin Payne, April McCassie, and Brian Chamberlain were ordered release upon cash bail and conditions including staying away from Athol and the victims. One of the defendants will have a dangerousness hearing this Friday and the other two defendants were released after last Friday’s arraignments.
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A dangerousness hearing has been set for this Tuesday for four Athol residents charged in the February 1st kidnapping and assault case.
All six people who were charged in the kidnapping and assault of two victims were arraigned in Orange District Court Friday and pleaded not guilty. Franklin Payne, April McCassie, Brian Chamberlain, and James Murphy, all of Athol, are being held without bail awaiting their dangerousness hearing Tuesday. They were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, assault and battery, armed robbery, intimidate to steal from depository. Payne was additionally charged with assault to maim and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Marlene Hill and Ronald Mitchell III were released on the condition they would remain at least 50 yards away from the victims and are due back in court on April 14th. Hill and Mitchell were charged with kidnapping, breaking ad entering, unarmed robbery, and conspiracy.
According to police reports, the victims had previously been involved with stealing one of the accused brother’s clothing when they were identified, held captive, beaten, and then each of the two victims were taken to retrieve some of the items.
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Five people will be arraigned in Orange District Court Friday following an alleged kidnapping and assault on February 1st in Athol. One victim reported they and another person were held against their will for four hours and were violently assaulted.
Athol Police and State Police Detective with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office worked in the investigation and arrested five people. Franklin Payne, 46, of Athol; April McCassie, 41, of Athol; Brian Chamberlain, 38, of Athol; and James Murphy, 30, of Athol and Marlene Hill, 44, of Orange.
Their numerous charges range from armed robbery, assault and battery, and kidnapping to stealing by confining or putting in fear and conspiracy.
According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber will be handling the case.