Man held without bail in Templeton Development Center death
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| Surrounded by court officers, Anthony E. Remillard, 22, enters the courtroom for arraignment Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court. He is charged with manslaughter in the death of Dennis R. Perry, 64, at the Templeton Developmental Center last September. (T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN)By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF scott.croteau@telegram.com
WORCESTER — A former Worcester man was arraigned on manslaughter and assault charges Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court in the killing of a developmentally disabled Athol man inside the Templeton Developmental Center a year ago.
Anthony E. Remillard, 22, uttered "guilty" when asked his plea on the manslaughter charge. His lawyer, Keith T. Higgins, quickly asked to speak to his client. Judge R. Lemire instead entered not-guilty pleas on the charges of manslaughter, assault and battery on a disabled person over 60 causing serious injuries, and assault and battery on a public employee. After the arraignment Mr. Higgins explained that his client was nervous with journalists in the courtroom. "I think it put him in a position where he was confused a little bit as to what was going on based on nerves," he said. Mr. Remillard is accused of assaulting Dennis R. Perry, 64, on Sept. 16, 2013, at the Templeton Developmental Center on Freight Shed Road in Templeton. Mr. Perry died a few days later at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Authorities allege Mr. Remillard shoved Mr. Perry into a boiler at the Development Center's Valley Barn. Mr. Perry suffered a serious head injury. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Quinlan asked for a competency hearing, which the judge allowed. Mr. Higgins objected to the hearing. Mr. Remillard underwent a competency hearing when the case was at the district court level. At that time he was found competent to stand trial. "I want this to get to a trial so we can hear about the conditions in the Templeton facility," the defense lawyer said, without commenting further. Mr. Remillard has a case pending in Worcester Superior Court on a charge of arson of a dwelling and breaking and entering in the daytime with intent to commit a felony. The charges stem from a two-alarm fire set on May 6, 2012, in a vacant commercial/residential building at 50 Lafayette St., near where Mr. Remillard was living at the time. The building was undergoing renovations. Mr. Remillard was ordered held without bail in the recent case. He is to return to court Oct. 7. Contact Scott J. Croteau at scott.croteau@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter@ScottCroteauTG |
Did you catch the line " I want this trial so we can hear about the conditions in the Templeton facility." It is very unfortunate that a man died and another will face the judge, but this may bring to light the poor planning the state has used in phasing out this facility. You can not mix people with two different diagnosis, little or no security and keep them under one roof. I feel that the State is going to try to leave us holding the bag, and that is just plain wrong. Just when were the powers to be going to inform the town that they want our town to be responsible for their roads, water system and security?? The day before the last State employee retires !! This trial will point out some of the serious flaws in the plan to phase out the Templeton Developmental Center, flaws that they will not be able to duck. It is the law that rescue has to respond to all 911 calls, but there is no way we can afford to take over the rest of their mess. We do not have the man power or the equipment, or money to get these things done,,,Plain and simple as that !! It is time for Mr. Brewer to dig a little deeper and come up with the money to fund the Police Department, Highway Department and town, not just for this year but into the future if this plan is going to be successful for all of us. Bev.
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