40 Years In Prison For Milford Man In 2015 Blackstone Shooting

MILFORD, MA — A Milford man may spend up to 40 years in state prison over his role in a fatal 2015 shooting in Blackstone, a judge has decided.

William Hodges, 41, pleaded guilty this week to voluntary manslaughter, intimidation of a witness, and possession of a firearm and ammunition charges. Worcester Superior Court Judge Janet Kenton-Walker sentenced him to up to 20 years on the manslaughter charge, and up to 20 years on the intimidation of a witness charge. He will serve up to seven years on the gun charges concurrently.

According to prosecutors, Hodges and his half-brother, Brendan Bates, took Kevin Gonsalves to a Blackstone home to rob a drug dealer in November 2015. When the trio arrived at the home, Hodges shot and killed Gonsalves.

The killing happened after Gonsalves became romantically involved with Hodges' wife, MassLive reported.

Multiple local police departments, including Milford and Blackstone, worked together on the case.

“Our prosecutors, Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey T. Travers, Assistant District Attorney David Feraco, and Assistant District Attorney DonnaMarie Haran worked extremely hard to bring this case to a resolution,” Worcester County Prosecutor Joseph Early said in a news release. “I want to thank our Chief Victim Witness Advocate Margaret Rwaramba for supporting Mr. Gonsalves’ family through the process.”