John Porter stared ahead during a May 2023 appearance in Woburn District Court. PHOTO/MARY ELLEN GAMBON

Some well-known public figures in Hopkinton will be going to court beginning in the next two months after several months of relative tranquility in town.

The most prominent case involves John “Jay” Porter, the former Hopkinton deputy police chief who was charged with three counts of child rape that allegedly occurred nearly 20 years prior when the accuser was a Hopkinton High School student and Porter was a school resource officer.

A pre-trial hearing on “motion(s) in limine” is scheduled for May 9 at Middlesex Superior Court before the trial begins May 12.

An in limine motion is made in court before the jury is seated. If granted, it instructs “the court to order the opposing party, its counsel, and witnesses not to talk about, or even mention, certain facts or evidence in the presence or hearing of the jury,” according to legaldictionary.net. No one would be allowed to bring up those facts without the court’s permission, and requests must be made outside the jury’s presence.

Porter last appeared in court on April 10 for a trial readiness conference.

Over the past two years, this case provoked a contentious period in Hopkinton marked by hostility toward police and public officials. Former HPD Sgt. Tim Brennan was terminated by the Select Board after a controversial two-part Loudermill hearing concluded in February 2024. The alleged survivor had revealed her accusation to Brennan, who did not report it to his supervisors, one of whom at the time was Porter.

A group of residents advocated for Brennan, noting his popularity and long-time service. They frequently voiced their concerns at Select Board meetings in 2023 and 2024 and called for his reinstatement at Special Town Meeting in May 2024 via a citizens’ petition. While it passed, 220-99, it was a pyrrhic victory for supporters because Town Meeting is not the appointing authority for police officers.

Some called for the removal of Select Board members and HPD Chief Joseph Bennett over the release of an improperly redacted transcript of an interview with Brennan conducted by an investigative firm regarding the allegations against Porter. This information was shared on the HPD news blog shortly after the first part of the Loudermill hearing and revealed information that could have led to the identification of the survivor.

Since that time, Brennan has taken his case to arbitration — which is being conducted privately. He was hired by the Milford Police Department last year as a patrol officer.

LaFreniere trial begins May 22

Select Board vice chair Mary Jo LaFreniere’s trial will begin May 22 in Framingham District Court, according to Middlesex District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Sarah Lamson.

In December of last year, LaFreniere was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol after a minor accident on Walcott Valley Drive. LaFreniere, who was not injured, requested that her vehicle be towed after she drove onto a curb and damaged a wheel. The vice chair was driving from TJ’s Food and Spirits, a bar on the Hopkinton-Ashland line. Earlier in the day, she attended a wake and dined with family before going to TJ’s, where she consumed two Irish coffees, according to a news report. Irish coffees typically are made with whiskey.

An automatic plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf at a pretrial conference in February.

For a first-time OUI offense, penalties are both punitive and rehabilitative, according to a legal website. If convicted, an offender may face a fine ranging from $500-$5,000, as stipulated under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 24. There is the possibility of incarceration for up to 2.5 years. While the law mandates a license suspension for one year, offenders may be eligible for a hardship license after three months, provided they meet certain criteria. First-time offenders often must complete a 16-week alcohol education program.

LaFreniere is not running for reelection in May after two terms in office. During her public service tenure in Hopkinton, she has championed senior services, public transportation accessibility and fiscal responsibility. She previously worked as the district director to former state Sen. David Magnani and as the town assessor for Holliston and Plainville.

Pizza shop owner returns to court June 11

The trial for Petros “Peter” Sismanis is scheduled for June 11 at Framingham District Court, Lamson confirmed.

The Hillers Pizza owner and Hopedale resident was charged Jan. 17, 2023, with one count of indecent assault of a minor and two counts of witness intimidation following an alleged incident with a teenage female employee in the basement of the restaurant.

Through his attorney, Joseph Eisenstadt, he entered a plea of not guilty at that time.