Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
Copyright: 2006 Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Contact:  http://www.telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/509
Note: Rarely  prints LTEs received from outside its circulation  area
Author: Milton J. Valencia

SYRINGE BILL FACES POSSIBLE  CHANGES

State Sen. Chandler Cites Area Robberies

WORCESTER- The robbery of a convenience store with a blood-filled 
syringe Tuesday night is the latest in what's become a startling new 
statistic for police and legislators who say tougher penalties are 
needed for those who use  the fear of transmitting a deadly disease 
as their weapon of choice.

State Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester, said yesterday she  is 
moving to amend a bill legalizing the over-the-counter sale of 
syringes to  include stiff penalties for those who threaten force 
with a needle.

"We've seen several of these lately," Mrs. Chandler said. "Now 
you've  got the potent danger of transmitting a highly 
life-threatening disease - AIDS.

"Nobody should have to deal with that."

Mrs. Chandler had  supported a bill earlier this winter that would 
have legalized the  over-the-counter sale of syringes to anyone over 
the age of 18 who shows  identification. Supporters of the bill said 
it would provide access to clean  syringes for drug addicts who share 
needles, therefore risking the transmission  of diseases such as AIDS 
and hepatitis. Advocates also said the bill would  assist law-abiding 
people who are prescribed needles but would have trouble  getting one 
if a pharmacy is closed - such as someone with diabetes. Similar laws 
have been passed in 47 states.

The bill had strong opposition,  however, from those who say the 
state shouldn 't be sanctioning the sale of  needles that would then 
be used for illegal purposes, such as shooting heroin.

William T. Breault, of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety, was 
a leading force in opposing the bill. He and neighbors complained the 
needles  would be discarded in backyards and in parks, risking area 
children who might  come into contact with one.

Nevertheless, the bill gained support and  saw the most momentum it 
has since it was introduced 10 years ago. It cleared  the House, 
which had typically rejected the bill, and was on its way to 
the  state Senate, which had supported it in the past.

The day it was  expected to reach the Senate, however, an armed 
robbery with a needle in  Westboro made statewide headlines. 
Legislators were alarmed that someone would  use a needle to threaten 
another person. They supported the bill because, they  said, it would 
stop the spread of diseases, but in this case it was the fear of 
disease being spread that stopped the bill.

"The Senate is not really  prepared to go with this forum," Mrs. 
Chandler said at the time. She said then  that she supported the bill 
but that she and the Senate must consider the  implications if 
someone used a syringe as a weapon. Since then, there have been  at 
least three other cases in the area in which someone used a dirty 
needle in a  robbery.

In the latest case, an Uxbridge man was accused Tuesday night  of 
stealing a cash register from a Highland Street convenience store 
after  threatening a clerk with a blood-filled syringe.

Steven J. Lajoie, 30,  of 82 Cross St., Uxbridge, was ordered held 
without bail yesterday after an  arraignment on an armed robbery 
charge in Central District Court. Mr. Lajoie  allegedly entered the 
Honey Farms store at 101 Highland St. shortly after 10:30  p.m. 
Tuesday and threatened to stab the clerk with the syringe if his 
demand for  money was not met.

He then fled with the cash register from the counter  of the 
D'Angelo's Sandwich Shop located within the store, police said. He 
was  arrested soon after, still in possession of the cash register. 
Lawyer Paul F.  Bolton, who was appointed to represent Mr. Lajoie at 
his arraignment, said his  client denied the allegations.

Judge Martha A. Brennan set $10,000 cash  bail on the armed robbery 
charge and then ordered that Mr. Lajoie be held  without bail pending 
a hearing to determine whether he violated the terms of 
his  probation from a case last year in which he was charged with two 
counts of possessing an instrument used to administer a controlled 
substance. The case was  continued to March 2.

In Fitchburg, a man was arrested after allegedly  threatening a CVS 
clerk Jan. 8 with a hypodermic needle during a robbery. In  that 
case, the man, Eric Lacouture, 25, who is homeless, allegedly asked 
for a pack of cigarettes and then passed a note to the clerk stating 
he would "stick"  the clerk with a needle containing the AIDS virus 
if he was not given money.

Two weeks later, a woman went into the Dunkin' Donuts on North Main 
Street in Leominster and demanded money. The clerk refused, and the 
woman then threatened her with a needle. The woman fled without 
money, however, when the  clerk sounded an alarm notifying police of 
a robbery in progress.
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