Aidan Kearney, the controversial blogger known as "Turtleboy" who's become well-known in Massachusetts for his part in the Karen Read murder investigation, was indicted on two new charges Friday.
A Norfolk County grand jury on Thursday indicted Kearney on charges of harassing a witness and intercepting wire or oral communication from a woman, according to the documents. The woman at the heart of the new charges, for alleged conduct in Medfield on about Dec. 23, is the one whose allegations prompted assault and battery and witness intimidation charges against Kearney three days later.
"He threatened her in saying that, if she didn't cooperate, he would destroy her in front of her kids by publishing old probate court records that he had acquired," a prosecutor said in court, adding that she found out Kearney had recorded their conversation when he posted an edited version online.
Kearney pleaded not guilty to the additional charges at a hearing that was already scheduled for Friday, where a judge also considered whether he should be released on bail. She ruled he be released on personal recognizance, but noted that his bail would be revoked if he faces new charges.
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Kearney had posted online Thursday night about expecting to be able to leave custody at Friday's bail hearing. After being released, he spoke emotionally about his 60-day jail stint being the toughest of his life.
"First thing I want to do is go home and see my two wonderful kids and take them out for dinner," Kearney said outside Norfolk Superior Court.
In court, his lawyer contested the prosecution's case and argued the woman has contradicted herself in accounts of what happened.
Kearney faces separate charges, also including witness intimidation, for alleged conduct involving witnesses and investigators in the Karen Read murder investigation, which is set to go to trial next month.
Kearney, who lives in Holden and has blogged about Boston-area news for years, rose to a new level of prominence while writing extensively about the Read case and the explosive allegations from her lawyers, which prosecutors have stridently denied, that she was framed in a complex coverup over the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.
Prosecutors alleged in recent weeks that Read fed confidential information to Kearney, with a Massachusetts State Police affidavit last month revealing that the two communicated directly for more than 40 hours during 189 phone calls, as well as through an intermediary and the Signal messaging app.
"Free Karen Read" merchandise with the Turtleboy logo remains available for sale on his site, and past stories have said proceeds go to a fund for Read's legal defense. In posts since the revelation, Kearney said he had not admitted publicly to communicating with Read because she "was an anonymous source." His attorney called it "an investigation without a crime," claiming "The only crime here is the robbery of privacy."
Prosecutors have also said Kearney worked with a police dispatcher to intimidate three people, including a Massachusetts State Police investigator working on the case. This week, prosecutors said they had new DNA evidence showing O'Keefe was likely struck by Read's vehicle.
Dozens of supporters greeted Kearney on the courthouse steps.
"I could have gotten out whenever I wanted by taking a plea, but I chose to simply stay in jail, because sometimes, principles matter more," he said.
At a Dec. 26 hearing, Kearney had his bail revoked in Dedham District Court on the assault and battery and witness intimidation charges he faced from the woman, who said she'd been dating him for about three months.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
The woman at the center of the new case, who's claimed to be Kearney's ex-girlfriend, has said she was given a subpoena related to the investigation and they agreed he would go to her apartment to talk about it. During that three-to-four hour period, she's claimed, he threatened to release personal information and explicit photos of her and ultimately pushed her into a couch.
"I'm going to keep obeying the law, and I'm going to keep reporting diligently on the Karen Read case until we have justice," Kearney said.
