Massachusetts State Police trooper Terence Kent pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and indecent assault and battery after he allegedly asked a man for a sexual favor during a traffic stop in August. Kent appeared in Middlesex Superior Court for his arraignment and was released on personal recognizance with orders to stay away from the victim. His case was continued to April 2 for a scheduling conference. Kent’s attorney, David Yanetti, urged people not to jump to conclusions and stated that the process would play out.
Kent was accused of blocking a man’s car with his cruiser and telling the man his registration and insurance had expired. When the man expressed concerns, Kent allegedly asked him to meet at a Department of Transportation location in Lexington, about 25 minutes away, and requested a sexual favor in exchange for not towing the man’s car. Kent was suspended from the police force in November pending the investigation.
Yanetti stated that they would evaluate the prosecution’s discovery material, including grand jury transcripts and lab results. Kent’s family showed support in court, with Yanetti mentioning that Kent comes from a good family in his hometown of Melrose. Kent, a 2017 State Police Academy graduate, had been previously suspended in 2023 for abandoning his assigned post. The case has garnered significant attention and will continue to unfold as more information is revealed.
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