A Plymouth man this week agreed to plead guilty to charges he cyberstalked multiple victims over a decade, posting on social media sites digitally altered images of them that included pornographic photos, according to federal prosecutors. James Florence Jr., 36, who was living at the Redbrook apartments in South Plymouth when he was arrested in […]
Author Archives: Andrea Estes - Independent Staff
Posted inBusiness
Could Costco be coming to Plymouth?
Attention Plymouth shoppers: Costco or some other sought-after retail emporium may be coming to town. And a highly visible blight on the landscape might be cleaned up in the process. The owner of TL Edwards Inc., the hulking gravel processing plant off Cherry Street and Commerce Way, wants to sell the 54-acre parcel, preferably to […]
Posted inGovernment
Differing opinions on rift between town manager, Independent aired at Select Board meeting
The town’s frayed relationship with the Plymouth Independent dominated Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, with some residents defending the nonprofit news organization and others backing town manager Derek Brindisi. For about 45 minutes, comments focused on an edict issued by Brindisi in December that all appointed town officials “cease all communication with the PI,” except for […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
After a long career, police captain says he’s had enough
He was the public face of the Plymouth Police Department, speaking for it when crimes were committed or suspects charged. He promoted the department on its Facebook page and organized searches when someone went missing. Captain Jason Higgins was the voice of the Plymouth police — until he was not. Higgins was in and out […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
On the fifth attempt, prosecutors get their wish: Alleged serial package thief jailed
It took five tries, but Plymouth County prosecutors finally persuaded a judge to lock up Sunny McDonough, the alleged package thief accused of carrying out a multitown, multiyear crime spree across eastern Massachusetts. Brockton District Court judge Jeffrey Clifford on Monday granted a prosecutor’s motion to revoke McDonough’s bail and sentenced her to 90 days […]
Posted inGovernment
MacRae moves to drop lawsuit over her narrow primary loss in Senate race
Defeated state Senate candidate Kari MacRae has asked a Plymouth County judge to dismiss her lawsuit alleging that election officials failed to properly verify the identity of voters in last year’s primary. MacRae, a Republican from Bourne, sued six towns in October – including Plymouth – asking judges in Plymouth and Barnstable Superior courts to […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
In federal suit, vocal sand mining critic says she has been targeted by local officials, business leaders
Environmental activist Meg Sheehan is seeking to identify anonymous critics she says maligned her on a Facebook page called “Meg Cost Us Millions” and other social media sites. In a 117-page lawsuit filed in US District Court in Boston, Sheehan, alleges that she has been victimized by town officials and powerful business leaders because she […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Judge raises bail to $75,000 for man charged with raping woman outside downtown bar
A Plymouth judge has set a higher bail for a man accused of raping a woman he met at a downtown bar, after prosecutors argued the $1,000 bail imposed at his arraignment would allow him to leave the country before the case is heard. Plymouth District Court judge Shelby Smith on Friday increased bail for […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Paroled murderer accused of groping girl in Plymouth hotel pool wants case dropped
Editor’s note: On Sept. 26, 2025, a jury found James Barnes not guilty of the charges listed in this report. A paroled killer accused of groping a 13-year-old girl in a Plymouth hotel pool wants a judge to throw out the charges, arguing that police lost key evidence — notes and recordings from interviews with […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
‘You can’t sit on your balcony or even watch TV’
They moved to the Plymouth waterfront, drawn by the spectacular bay views from their living room windows. Life at Copper Cove Village was idyllic, and the condo owners loved calling it home. They knew that living in the downtown area might come with some noise. But they never imagined their lives would be upended by […]