Accused MA Cop Killer Takes Stand In Cape Cod Trial: Patch PM

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Monday, August 16. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• A former Marblehead youth hockey coach accused of child sexual assault pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 to 15 years in prison at Salem Superior Court on Monday.
• After working the family's century-old business for more than 70 years, Tony Russo is retiring and shutting down Russo's in Watertown.
• U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, an Iraq War veteran who has been calling on the Biden Administration to evacuate Afghanistan for months, says the evacuation has been a "disaster" that was unavoidable.

Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Today's Top Story

The murder trial for the man accused of killing Yarmouth Police Sgt. Gannon and injuring his K-9 partner in 2018 continued Monday with testimony from Thomas Latanowich, taking the stand in his own defense.

Latanowich testified about work being done on a house close by, saying all he could hear were nail guns when officers entered the home. WHDH reported he told the jury he was confused and unable to hear the officers calling out to him.

Latanowich has pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail since his arrest. As many as 60 witnesses could take the stand before the jury gets the case, and the trial is expected to last up to four weeks.

Read the full story.

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Monday's Other Top Stories

Coach pleads guilty to child sex crimes: A former Marblehead youth hockey coach accused of child sexual assault pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 to 15 years in prison at Salem Superior Court on Monday. Prew, 34, was scheduled to be tried on the charges involving boys between the ages of 7 of 13, but entered a guilty plea instead, according to court filings. Prew has been in prison for nearly two years since the judge revoked his bail. He was accused of sexually assaulting seven boys across Essex County, including those in Marblehead and Peabody.

Popular store closing as owner retires: After working the family's century-old business for more than 70 years, Tony Russo is retiring and shutting down Russo's in Watertown. The shop took to Facebook Sunday, posting that owner Tony Russo would be retiring and closing the business this fall. The business began in 1919, starting out as a small farm and eventually working its way up to the huge success Watertown residents have come to love.

Coyotes attack dog in Watertown: Police are warning Watertown residents to be aware of an increased number of coyotes in the area after a dog on a walk with its owner was attacked Friday night. The dog and owner were walking around Walnut Street when it was attacked by three coyotes, the Watertown Police department said in a statement. Police noted a recent uptick in coyote sightings, specifically in the east end of Watertown and on bicycle paths.

Search for missing fisherman off Nantucket: Coast Guard crews were looking for a man who went overboard about 60 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket Monday morning. "The man was not wearing a life jacket," the Coast Guard said on Twitter. The man was aboard the fishing boat Blue Wave based in New Bedford.

Eat fresh: Patch's 2021 Massachusetts Farmers Market Guide

Picture This: Cape From Space

Shane Kimbrough, the commander of NASA SpaceX Crew-2, shared a couple photos he took of Cape Cod. Kimbrough is on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

They Said It

"To say that today is anything short of a disaster would be dishonest. Worse, it was avoidable. The time to debate whether we stay in Afghanistan has passed, but there is still time to debate how we manage our retreat."

• U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Salem Democrat, on Sunday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. Moulton, an Iraq War veteran, has been calling on the Biden Administration to evacuate those who supported the 20-year American mission in opposition of the Taliban for months.

In Case You Missed It

Baker just says 'No' to mask mandate: Mask mandates are better left to local municipalities this time around, as COVID-19 cases increase and the severity of most decrease. Baker said he is not thinking about issuing a statewide mask mandate. Massachusetts, he said, is in a "dramatically different place" for the renewed surge than other states despite the rise in cases. "I'm not considering changing the mask mandate at this time," Baker said at a Monday morning press conference in Peabody.

By The Numbers

12: The number of years since a Massachusetts team made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. The Peabody West Little League team fell one win short of making the Series with a 5-0 loss Friday.