State Search Warrant at Mayor’s Office

Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña’s office was searched under a state warrant on Thursday, May 21, as Massachusetts investigators pressed a City Hall recording inquiry. Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office confirmed the warrant to WCVB, but did not describe what investigators were seeking or whether they seized anything. Lawrence officials said the city was cooperating. The search followed an earlier seizure of recording equipment tied to cameras outside the mayor’s office, according to WCVB. ### Why did investigators return to the mayor’s office? State police troopers assigned to Campbell’s office had already seized recording equipment in April that was connected to cameras outside the mayor’s office, WCVB reported. That earlier action came after authorities began examining unauthorized cameras discovered inside Lawrence City Hall. (wcvb.com) WCVB reported on April 14 that the cameras were sending secret recordings to a receiver in the office of then-chief of staff William Castro, citing a source familiar with the matter. One of the cameras recorded both audio and video of a conversation, according to that report. ### What is the wiretapping issue in this case? Massachusetts law makes it a felony to record someone’s audio without consent, and WCVB said a leaked recording triggered the attorney general’s investigation. (wcvb.com) The station reported that one camera captured a conversation involving the mayor’s chief of staff and a city employee, and that the recording later circulated publicly. (wcvb.com) City Attorney Timothy Houten told a City Council meeting in April that a recording device had been seized by law enforcement and that the investigating agency was not the Lawrence Police Department, according to WCVB. Houten did not identify the agency at that time. ### Who is William Castro, and what happened to him? William Castro was DePeña’s former chief of staff and had previously served as Lawrence’s acting police chief, according to WCVB. (wcvb.com) The station reported that Castro was dismissed from his City Hall post shortly after investigators seized equipment tied to the cameras. WCVB also reported that Castro had earlier been stripped of his law enforcement credentials after an investigation into a high-speed chase. (wcvb.com) The station said it had reached out to Castro for comment during its April reporting and did not receive a response. ### What have the mayor and the city said? Lawrence’s director of public relations told WCVB on May 22 that the city was cooperating with the appropriate authorities. (wcvb.com) The Massachusetts State Police told the station they had no information to share publicly. Mayor Brian DePeña said in an earlier statement, reported by WCVB in April, that there would be “ongoing changes” as his administration moved through the opening months of his second term. (wcvb.com) WCVB linked that statement to staffing changes that included Castro’s departure. ### What is still not public? Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office has confirmed the warrant but has not described the evidence sought in Thursday’s search, according to WCVB. (wcvb.com) Authorities also have not publicly said whether the latest warrant is directly tied to the felony wiretapping inquiry or whether any charges are planned. Massachusetts court records pages were publicly available on Saturday, May 23, but the reporting reviewed did not identify a filed criminal case tied to the City Hall camera matter. (wcvb.com) The next public details are likely to come from the attorney general’s office, court filings, or Lawrence officials if charges or additional warrants are disclosed. (mass.gov) (wcvb.com)