By Laura Soukkavong –
A murder charge in the death of a 2-week-old baby, disturbing allegations involving an assistant principal and a student, stolen personal information in a Massachusetts school cyberattack and federal child exploitation charges against an afterschool employee are among the major crime and public safety stories unfolding across New England.
WILLIMANTIC MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN DEATH OF 2-WEEK-OLD BABY
A Willimantic man has been arrested in connection with the December 2025 death of a 2-week-old baby. Dean R. Peruta, 40, was served with an arrest warrant Tuesday at Danielson Superior Court after the warrant was issued September 10.
Peruta was charged with murder of a victim under 16 years old, murder and risk of injury to a child. He appeared in court Tuesday and was held on $2 million bond.
NEW HAVEN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENT
A New Haven high school assistant principal is accused of sexually assaulting a student on two consecutive days inside his office while school was in session. New Haven Police were notified of the allegations by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families on May 22.
The assistant principal was identified as Daniel Bonet-Ojeda, 49, of Hillhouse High School. According to the arrest warrant, the student regularly visited his office to talk, and a school social worker told investigators the student referred to Bonet-Ojeda as her “school dad.”
SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL CYBERATTACK INVOLVED STOLEN PERSONAL INFORMATION
Springfield Public Schools reopened Monday after being closed last week because of a data breach, and investigators have determined personal information belonging to students and staff members was stolen.
The district said Tuesday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation informed school officials that the cyberattack compromised personal data belonging to members of the school community. Springfield Public Schools is working to make free credit monitoring services available to personnel as quickly as possible.
ONE DEAD IN MAINE SCHOOL BUS AND MOTORCYCLE CRASH
One person was killed and another was injured Tuesday in a crash involving a school bus and motorcycle in Augusta, Maine.
The collision happened at the intersection of Cony Street and Pierce Drive near the entrance to Cony High School. No additional details about the circumstances surrounding the crash were provided.
MALDEN SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD EXPLOITATION CHARGES
A staff member at a school in Malden was arrested Tuesday morning on federal child exploitation charges. Anthony Fowlkes is accused of sextorting two teenage girls in Michigan.
Court records say the 15-year-old and 16-year-old told police in Waterford that Fowlkes obtained nude photographs from them despite knowing they were underage and then threatened them when one tried to stop communicating with him. Malden Public Schools said Fowlkes worked at the AlphaBEST afterschool program until the district learned of his arrest Tuesday morning and had previously worked at the Linden School.
GUCKIAN WINS RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR NOMINATION AFTER REREAD
The Rhode Island Board of Elections said Tuesday that Aaron Guckian won the Republican nomination for governor after a reread of electronic data stored on election-night memory devices produced no change in the race against Elaine Pelino. Pelino had trailed Guckian by 259 votes.
The Board of Elections is the state agency responsible for administering Rhode Island’s election process, and its official website identifies the September 9, 2026 statewide primary and provides information on the state’s recount procedures.
LITTLE COMPTON FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION
A fire broke out Tuesday morning at a building on Long Highway in Little Compton, Rhode Island. The fire reportedly started on the first floor of a garage on the property.
The town’s fire chief said the incident is being investigated as a potential welding fire originating from a vehicle that was being worked on. The investigation into the cause remains underway.