News

Athol man convicted of 16 crimes, sentencing in September

Athol man convicted of 16 crimes, sentencing in September

Photo: Saga Communications


GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — An Athol man will be sentenced in September after being found guilty of sixteen crimes including indecent assault and battery, intimidation of a witness, and vandalism, among other charges. 39 year-old Christopher Mundell was previously found guilty of sexually assaulting and stabbing a two year-old in 2010. Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington called the case “particularly egregious.”

From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office:

Jury Convicts Athol Man Convicted of Multiple Violent Offenses

GREENFIELD – Christopher Mundell, 39, of Athol, was found guilty Monday by a Franklin County Superior Court jury following a two-day trial and three days of deliberations.

The jury convicted Mundell of 16 crimes, including: six counts of assault and battery on a family or household member; two counts of threatening to commit a crime; and single counts of suffocation, kidnapping, indecent assault and battery, assault with intent to commit rape, intimidation of a witness, breaking and entering during the daytime with the intent to commit a felony, vandalism, and wanton destruction of property. He acquitted on one count of indecent assault and battery and on one count of withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Franklin County Superior Court. The convictions stem from a series of domestic violence and sexual assault offenses committed against Mundell’s former girlfriend in Montague and Athol between 2021 and 2022. Evidence presented at trial also showed that Mundell threatened to kill the victim’s pets.

Assistant District Attorneys Andrew Covington and Jillian Parent prosecuted the case with Victim Witness Advocate Kim Devine working closely with the survivor. Mundell was represented by Attorney Austin Andenmatten from Woburn. The case was tried before Judge Jeremy Bucci.

At the time of the crimes, Mundell was on probation related to a 2010 conviction for sexual assaulting and stabbing a 2-year-old child. Mundell was sentenced to 11 to 13 years in state prison on that case and was released in 2021. In December 2024, based on his commission of these new crimes, Mundell was found in violation of his probation and sentenced to 2.5 years in the House of Correction.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington praised the survivor’s strength, stating:

“The survivor in this case showed tremendous courage by coming forward and testifying against Mr. Mundell in three separate proceedings. The case was particularly egregious. We would also like to thank Detective Sergeant Doug Kaczmarcyk from the Athol Police Department for his thorough investigation, which played a crucial role in securing these convictions.

News

23 hours ago in National

Trump executive order tries to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday aiming to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War — a long-telegraphed move aimed at projecting American military toughness around the globe.

23 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

This year’s song of the summer is a ballad, not a banger. Here’s what that says about us

For the past 14 weeks and counting, the top Billboard spot has been held by a love ballad: Alex Warren's "Ordinary." As Berklee College of Music professor and forensic musicologist Joe Bennett notes, the February release is "a fair bit slower than the mean average for the Hot 100, or for a historical song of the summer."

1 day ago in Entertainment

Julia Roberts, Anna Wintour, Ralph Lauren and more pay tribute to Giorgio Armani

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani's work spanned the worlds of celebrity, fashion and power. His death announced Thursday at age 91 has elicited an outpouring of tributes.

1 day ago in Entertainment

Al Roker lends his voice and meteorology skills to the new PBS Kids animated show ‘Weather Hunters’

This fall, everyone's favorite weatherman is getting a kick out of launching his own educational cartoon TV show — "Weather Hunters," which premieres Monday on PBS Kids.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Justin Bieber announces ‘Swag ll’ will arrive Friday

Never say never... again? In July, Justin Bieber surprised fans by releasing his seventh studio album, "Swag," hours after he teased it on billboards and social media posts. It turns out, he wasn't done yet. On Thursday morning, Bieber shared that "Swag II" will arrive on Friday.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Giorgio Armani, who dressed the powerful and famous from boardroom to Hollywood, dies at 91

Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian designer who turned the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar fashion empire, died Thursday, his fashion house confirmed. He was 91.

2 days ago in National

Trump will host top tech CEOs except Musk at a White House dinner

President Donald Trump will host a high-powered list of tech CEOs for a dinner at the White House on Thursday night. The guest list is set to include Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and a dozen other executives from the biggest artificial intelligence and tech firms, according to the White House.

2 days ago in Lifestyle

Moms’ careers and personal time are hit hard by school drop-off demands, a poll finds

About one-third of parents say taking their kids to school has caused them to miss work, according to the poll. Roughly 3 in 10 say they've been prevented from seeking or taking work opportunities. And 11% say school transportation has even caused them to lose a job.

2 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.7 billion after another night without a big winner

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner Wednesday. The numbers selected were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.

3 days ago in Entertainment

5 new cast members join ‘Saturday Night Live’ after high-profile departures

Five new cast members will join the upcoming season of "Saturday Night Live," NBC announced Tuesday on the heels of several high-profile departures.