Commonwealth v. Kerns

The defendant, indicted as a youthful offender, is on trial before a judge in the Brockton Division of the Juvenile Court Department, sitting without a jury, on charges of threatening to use deadly weapons, G. L. c. 269, § 14 (b); and conspiracy to commit mass murder, G. L. c. 274, § 7.1 The charges arose out of allegations that the defendant, and others, planned to execute a terrorist-type attack on students, teachers, resource officers, and administrators at Marshfield High School (high school). The evidence at the trial has been completed, closing arguments made, and the judge has taken…