Brockton Man Was Trying To Help Norton Girl Who Went Missing: Police

TAUNTON, MA — A Brockton man charged with kidnapping a 6-year-old girl says he was trying to help her.

Avery L. Howard, 32, of Brockton, faces a charge of kidnapping and was arraigned Tuesday in Taunton District Court.

Friday, Howard, a home health care aid, was on his way to help a client in Norton when he saw a girl walking alone with a suitcase. The girl said she was kicked out of her house and was on her way to her grandmother's in Easton, according to the Sun Chronicle.

The girl's grandmother was not home and Howard took the girl with him to work.

Assistant District Attorney Keith Paquette argued that the girl was not old enough to consent to going somewhere with Howard and the Brockton man should have called 911 or gone to a police or fire station. Defense attorney Scott Bradley said Howard has special needs and thought he was helping her.

Howard was ordered held on $2,000 cash bail. He must stay away from the girl and wear a GPS bracelet. He is due back in court June 29.

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