2 former leaders at Holyoke Soldiers' Home, where dozens died of COVID-19, set to avoid jail time

630, RIGHT AFTER THIS NEWSCAST. THE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST TWO LEADERS OF THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME, WHERE MORE THAN 70 VETERANS DIED DURING THE COVID OUTBREAK. IT’S NOW OVER. AND TONIGHT, FAMILIES AND EVEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE SPEAKING OUT. FIVE INVESTIGATES KAREN ANDERSON IS HERE. AND SO, KAREN, YOU JUST HEARD FROM A WOMAN WHOSE FATHER WAS AMONG THOSE WHO DIED. AND THERE’S A LOT OF ANGER WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT TODAY? THE HOME SUPERINT MENDON AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR COULD HAVE EACH FACED UP TO 15 YEARS BEHIND BARS FOR THE CRIMINAL NEGLECT CHARGES. INSTEAD, THE CHARGES WILL SOON BE DISMISSED IF THEY FOLLOW THE TERMS OF THEIR DEAL. THEY ALL DESERVE JUSTICE. THEY DID NOT DESERVE TO BE DISRESPECTED LIKE THIS IN A COURT OF LAW. LORI BEAUDET WENT TO COURT HOPING FOR JUSTICE FOR HER FATHER, JAMES MANDEVILLE, AND THE MORE THAN 70 OTHER VETERANS WHO DIED AT THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME OF COVID 19 DISCUSSED. I’M DISGUSTED. HER OUTRAGE COMING AFTER FORMER HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME SUPERINTENDENT BENNETT WALSH AND FORMER MEDICAL DIRECTOR DAVID CLINTON ADMITTED TO SUFFICIENT FACT, MEANING THEY AGREED THERE WERE ENOUGH FACTS TO FIND THEM GUILTY. BUT IT’S NOT A GUILTY PLEA, AND THEIR CHARGES WILL BE DISMISSED IF THEY DON’T VIOLATE THE TERMS OF THE DEAL. ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL’S OFFICE HAD ASKED FOR A YEAR OF HOME CONFINEMENT TODAY, SHE SAID IN A STATEMENT. I AM DISAPPOINTED AND DISHEARTENED WITH THE COURT’S DECISION AND WANT THESE FAMILIES AND OUR VETERANS TO KNOW. MY OFFICE DID EVERYTHING IT COULD TO SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY WITNESSES WHO SAW THE SCENE DESCRIBED IT AS A BATTLEFIELD, A WAR ZONE. WORST THING I’VE EVER SEEN IN COURT. PROSECUTORS DESCRIBED HOW ASYMPTOMATIC VETERANS WERE CRAMMED IN WITH VETERANS ACTIVELY SUFFERING FROM COVID. WALSH’S ATTORNEY SAID THE SOLDIERS HOME RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK WAS CRIPPLED BY STAFFING SHORTAGES. THE HARDEST PART IS KNOWING THAT HE’S HE’S HE’S HE’S A FREE MAN, THAT HE HAS. NO THERE’S NO PENALTIES FOR HIM FOR WHAT HE’S DONE. SO UNDER THE TERMS OF THE DEAL, BOTH WALSH AND CLINTON CANNOT WORK IN A NURSING HOME AGAIN, CANNOT CONTACT THE VICTIMS AND CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE SOLDIER’S HOME WITHOUT PERMIS

Two former top officials at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, the site of one of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks in Massachusetts, admitted Tuesday that they would have been found guilty if their cases went to trial.Former Holyoke Soldiers' Home superintendent Bennet Walsh was in charge of the home when at least 76 veterans died in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.Walsh and the home's former medical director, Dr. David Clinton, were criminally charged after it was revealed that residents who were actively suffering from COVID-19 were put in the same area as asymptomatic veterans. On Tuesday, both Walsh and Clinton admitted to sufficient facts. That means both men agreed there were enough facts to find them guilty of criminal neglect, but it also means they did not plead guilty and their charges will be dismissed if they do not violate the following terms: Walsh and Clinton cannot work in a nursing home, they cannot contact victims and cannot be present at the Soldiers' Home without permission.The defendants' requests that the criminal neglect charges be continued without a finding for a three-month probationary period was accepted by Hampden Superior Court Judge Edward J. McDonough."I am disappointed and disheartened with the court's decision, and want these families and our veterans to know my office did everything it could to seek accountability," reads a statement from Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell."(The veterans) all deserve justice. They did not deserve to be disrespected like this in a court of law," said Laurie Baudette, whose father died during the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home. "I'm disgusted."Campbell's office had sought guilty pleas and three years probation on the charges, including one year of home confinement.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.Previous stories: November 2021 – Hampden Superior Court Judge dismisses indictments of neglect for former Soldiers Home superintendent Bennett Walsh and former medical director Dr. David Clinton April 2022 - Massachusetts Inspector General’s report critical of Walsh’s handling of the situation May 2022 – State reaches $56 million settlement in class-action lawsuit April 2023 – Supreme Judicial Court reinstates criminal charges against Walsh and Clinton

HOLYOKE, Mass. —

Former Holyoke Soldiers' Home superintendent Bennet Walsh was in charge of the home when at least 76 veterans died in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walsh and the home's former medical director, Dr. David Clinton, were criminally charged after it was revealed that residents who were actively suffering from COVID-19 were put in the same area as asymptomatic veterans.

On Tuesday, both Walsh and Clinton admitted to sufficient facts. That means both men agreed there were enough facts to find them guilty of criminal neglect, but it also means they did not plead guilty and their charges will be dismissed if they do not violate the following terms: Walsh and Clinton cannot work in a nursing home, they cannot contact victims and cannot be present at the Soldiers' Home without permission.

The defendants' requests that the criminal neglect charges be continued without a finding for a three-month probationary period was accepted by Hampden Superior Court Judge Edward J. McDonough.

"I am disappointed and disheartened with the court's decision, and want these families and our veterans to know my office did everything it could to seek accountability," reads a statement from Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

"(The veterans) all deserve justice. They did not deserve to be disrespected like this in a court of law," said Laurie Baudette, whose father died during the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home. "I'm disgusted."

Campbell's office had sought guilty pleas and three years probation on the charges, including one year of home confinement.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Previous stories:

2 former leaders at Holyoke Soldiers' Home, where dozens died of COVID-19, set to avoid jail time

GET OUR POLITICS NEWSLETTER

Top Picks