Opinion: McCoy Supports Effort To Impeach Salem Judge

WILMINGTON, MA -- Wilmington Selectman Michael mcCoy, who is one of nine candidates running for state representative to represent Wilmington and Tewksbury, submitted the following letter to the editor:

I never heard of Judge Timothy Feeley until recently. However, from what I have gathered by reading about him is that he's far too easy on convicted criminals. What I read is that he ignored a prosecutor's request to give a drug dealer jail time because he was simply supporting his family with the money he made from selling drugs and there was a chance he may have been deported. In my humble opinion, that's crazy. As a sitting member of the Wilmington Board of Selectmen, I requested that our board send a letter to our legislative delegation to be opposed to State Senator Eldridge to file legislation making our state a safe haven for illegal immigrants, especially those who commit heinous crimes to our citizens.

As a candidate for State Representative, I'm opposed to cities in the state providing safe havens for illegal immigrants. I did state that we can't kick out 15-20 million illegal aliens and the federal government needs to address this issue. However, illegal aliens who commit crimes against our citizens need to be deported. Don't get me wrong, there are millions of immigrants that are law abiding and do care for our country like my grandfather who came to this country from Sicily. For those people, there should be a pathway to citizenship.

This same judge reduced the bail on John Williams, who was arrested for having, in possession, a firearm. Judge Feeley reduced his bail and he was set free. Shortly thereafter, John Williams did the unthinkable and killed a deputy in Maine. As a candidate for State Representative, I do support capital punishment. Not only should it apply to those criminals who brutally kill our men and women who are police officers, firefighters, and EMT's, but also should apply to those who kill any citizen. If someone rapes and kills a member of my family or your family, the death penalty should apply.

We need more oversight and better checks and balances in our state government when these violent criminals only get a slap on the wrist. I firmly and unequivocally support Representative Jim Lyons' petition to impeach Judge Feeley.

Thank you,

Michael V. McCoy

More on this story: More Attorneys Come To Salem Judge's Defense

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Photo by Michael V. McCoy.