Defendant Charged by Townsend Police Convicted, Sentenced to 18 Months in Jail

TOWNSEND — Chief James Sartell reports that a Townsend man was sentenced to 18 months in jail after being convicted of charges connected to two cases brought forward by Townsend Police. 

MICHAEL ALAN COLLINS, AGE 45, OF TOWNSEND, was convicted of:

• Larceny of a Motor Vehicle
• Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,200 (Two Counts)
• Malicious Destruction of Property Over $1,200

In May of 2024, Townsend Police located a trailer and contents that had been stolen from Peabody on a property on North End Road in Townsend. A subsequent investigation determined that COLLINS parked the stolen trailer on a property in Townsend. While the trailer was parked in Townsend, COLLINS destroyed a cover that was on the trailer. 

In August 2024, a resident of North End Road contacted Townsend Police to report that one of his ATVs was stolen. A subsequent investigation by Townsend Police that included community outreach, interviews with witnesses, and review of video surveillance determined that COLLINS stole the ATV from a property on North End Road and then hid it in a wooded area off of Ball Road.

COLLINS pleaded guilty in Ayer District Court on April 9 to two counts of receiving stolen property over $1,200, and one count of malicious destruction of property over $1,200. COLLINS pleaded guilty in Ayer District Court on May 6 to larceny of a motor vehicle. 

Judge Tejal Mehta sentenced COLLINS to six months in jail on the larceny of a motor vehicle charge, and to a year in jail on the receiving stolen property and malicious destruction of property charges. 

“Townsend Police officers worked together on these two cases to recover property and quickly identify a suspect. The investigation included collection of forensic evidence, community outreach, and reviews of surveillance footage captured by residents,” said Chief Sartell. “I am proud of the work that our department did on these cases and thank the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office for a successful prosecution.”

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