Jury returns verdict in 2010 boating death

For immediate release: June 21, 2012

Contact: Mary Carey at mary.carey@state.ma.us

A Hampshire County jury returned guilty verdicts, today, on two of eight counts against Steven Morse, 39, of Westfield, in connection with the Aug. 17, 2010 death of 10-year-old Augustus Adamopolous, on Lake Norwich in Huntington.

Morse was found guilty of boat homicide by negligent operation, a misdemeanor; and of misleading a police officer, a felony.

The jury found Morse not guilty of manslaughter, boat homicide by reckless operation while under the influence of alcohol; serious injury while operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and three counts of child endangerment while under the influence.

Judge Daniel Ford revoked bail, pending sentencing in Hampshire Superior Court, tomorrow, Friday, June 22 at 2 p.m.

Morse is required by statute to serve a minimum of 30 days in jail for the homicide-by-negligent operation offense and could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for misleading a police officer.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas argued that Morse misled  police by not telling them until days later that he had smoked marijuana on the day of the crash.

Morse was operating a motor boat when it struck and ran over a kayak from which Gus Adamopolous and his father James Adamopolous, of Ludlow, were fishing on the lake. The younger Adamopolous was severely injured and died within hours. James Adamopolous also sustained serious injuries.

“The untimely death of a child is a nightmare from which no family will ever awaken,” Thomas said.

Thomas thanked the jury for their careful deliberations.