Westfield man sentenced to 5 years in Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction

For immediate release: June 22, 2012

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

Hampshire Superior Court Judge Daniel Ford, today, sentenced Steven Morse, of Westfield, to 5 years in the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction, in connection with the Aug. 17, 2010 death of 10-year-old Augustus Adamopoulos, on Lake Norwich in Huntington.

A Hampshire County jury, on June 21, found Morse, 39,  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.

Adamopoulos’s father James Adamopoulos, read a victim impact statement at today’s sentencing hearing.

Morse gave a statement, saying he accepts responsibility for his actions.