News

Athol man found guilty of child sex abuse charges

Athol man found guilty of child sex abuse charges

Photo: Saga Communications


GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — An Athol man has been convicted on various child sex abuse charges and faces decades in prison when he is sentenced later this month.

63-year-old Kenneth Johnson was found guilty of two counts of aggravated rape and abuse of a child, five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old and one count each of intimidation of a witness, attempt to commit a crime, and accost/annoy another person.

According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the abuse took place between 2017 and 2020. The victim is a young girl who was under Johnson’s care, and the abuse began when she was about 10 years old.

Johnson will be back in Franklin Superior Court on February 18 to be sentenced.

Johnson’s wife was found guilty of witness intimidation. The DA’s office said Shelley Johnson told the girl not to go to the police.

News

3 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Eddie Vedder turns solo vulnerability into a powerful plea in Netflix’s ‘Matter of Time’

The first time Eddie Vedder toured without Pearl Jam, he made some glaring mistakes onstage and felt discouraged. A few shows later, he ran into Bruce Springsteen, who told him that performing solo is terrifying but that vulnerability can be a force to harness.

3 days ago in Entertainment

30 years after Pokémon’s release, fans are still trying to catch ’em all

In the 30 years since Pokémon debuted in Japan with the 1996 release of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green for Nintendo Game Boy, the franchise has taken over the globe with its animated shows, mobile games and highly coveted trading cards. Its popularity continues with fans young and old.

4 days ago in Entertainment

Park Chan-wook will lead the Cannes Film Festival jury, will be the 1st Korean in the role

Park Chan-wook, the Korean filmmaker of "Oldboy" and "No Other Choice," will head the jury at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, festival organizers announced Thursday.

5 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Phil Collins, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross and Shakira get Rock Hall nominations

Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Luther Vandross and Shakira are some the 2026 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a wide net that includes rap, metal, R&B, hip-hop, Britpop, blues rock and pop.

5 days ago in Lifestyle

Are expensive shampoos worth it? Here’s what the experts have to say

Ornate packaging paired with enticing advertisements that claim expensive shampoos are elixirs to all hair woes can leave one wondering: Are the higher prices really worth it? Should I abandon my $8 drugstore mainstay for a $42 premium brand?

6 days ago in Entertainment

Robert Carradine, ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Lizzie McGuire’ star, dies at 71

Robert Carradine, the youngest of his prolific Hollywood family and whose biggest hit was the 1984 comedy "Revenge of the Nerds," has died at 71. In a Tuesday statement to news outlets, his family said he lived with bipolar disorder for two decades and died by suicide.