Karen Read trying to block ‘Turtleboy’ special prosecutor search of phones
A lawyer for Karen Read blasted an attempt by a special prosecutor assigned to the witness intimidation cases against Aidan Kearney to search two of her phones, saying there was no legal justification for the state to hold on to the devices.
Last month, Robert Cosgrove, the retired judge appointed as special prosecutor in Kearney's cases, sought a warrant to go through Read's phones for evidence she and Kearney conspired to intimidate witnesses in her criminal case. Ahead of Read's criminal trials, it was revealed that she passed information about her case to Kearney, the blogger known as "Turtleboy."
A grand jury previously heard evidence on the accusation that the pair conspired to intimidate witnesses, but did not hand up any indictments.
Attorney Steven Boozang, who Read hired to represent her following her acquittal on charges connected with the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O'Keefe, filed a motion opposing Cosgrove's effort to search the phones.
In it, Boozang notes that the phones in question were seized in January 2024, meaning they have been in the state's possession for more than 500 days. There is no reason the phones shouldn't be returned to Read given the lengthy timeframe, he writes.
He blasts Cosgrove's motion, and a supporting affidavit prepared by Det. Lt. Brian Tully last year, as "an overbroad and persecutory fishing expedition intended to punish and harass Ms. Read," according to a copy of the filing posted by Boston 25 News .
A Norfolk Superior Court clerk said they could not give out copies of the filing because it was connected with a search warrant.
The only communications relevant to whether Read conspired with Kearney would be those he actually received from her, Boozang wrote, noting that prosecutors are already in possession of several phones belonging to Kearney.
Going through Read's phones won't "produce evidence of the alleged offense," Boozang's filing reads.
"The basis of the Commonwealth's inquiry into Ms. Read for the offense of witness intimidation is a groundless allegation of indirect witness intimidation," Boozang wrote. "This is evidenced by Trooper Tully's supporting affidavit, which only describes conclusory allegations of witness intimidation as occurring through Ms. Read's communications with Mr. Kearney."
"There is absolutely no evidence of Ms. Read ever urging or even suggesting to Mr. Kearney that any witness be contacted, approached, or even discussed in Mr. Kearney's reporting," he continued.
Cosgrove is seeking to assemble a "Taint Team" to search Read's phones, comprising a forensic examiner and a judge. His filing asks a Superior Court judge to order Read to turn over passwords for the phones, and to provide details of how she communicated with her lawyers so those messages aren't swept up in the search.
A hearing in Kearney's case is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday in Norfolk Superior Court.
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