District fire chief resigns after assault and lewd conduct charges
A district chief for the Boston Fire Department accused of assault and lewd conduct submitted his resignation Monday, avoiding the possibility of department charges, The Boston Globe reports. Paul Hutchinson, a 54-year-old Westwood resident, pleaded guilty to an assault and battery charge in Dedham District Court in July. The charges stemmed from an incident last July in which a woman said Hutchinson began to “maul” her, exposed himself, and masturbated in the passenger seat of her car, according to the Globe.Hutchinson, a 29-year-veteran with Boston fire, was ordered to have no contact with the victim and undergo a sex offender evaluation. According to the Globe, while the court ruled there were “sufficient facts” to find Hutchinson guilty on a charge of lewdness, open and gross conduct, it was continued without a finding until July 24, 2017.A spokesman for Boston fire told the Globe the department was not aware of the case until last September. Hutchinson was immediately placed on administrative leave with pay, and later without pay once he was formally charged. When Hutchinson pleaded guilty, Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph F. Finn ordered him to a Tuesday hearing to face charges that he violated the department’s rules and regulations, according to the Globe. Hutchinson submitted his resignation Monday afternoon, which will allow him to keep his pension. Read the full report at the Globe.
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