Career criminal in hot water again after 5 Investigates airs follow up
A man who pleaded guilty to larceny and stolen valor charges after collecting cash for homeless veterans is accused of violating his probation once again.
A man who pleaded guilty to larceny and stolen valor charges after collecting cash for homeless veterans is accused of violating his probation once again.
A man who pleaded guilty to larceny and stolen valor charges after collecting cash for homeless veterans is accused of violating his probation once again.
A career criminal who pleaded guilty to larceny and stolen valor charges after collecting cash for homeless veterans is accused of violating his probation once again, and it all stems from his appearance in a 5 Investigates report earlier this month.
5 Investigates’ Mike Beaudet first raised questions about Sean Murphy's fundraising on behalf of homeless veterans two years ago. Since then, he went to prison for a year for violating his probation on an earlier conviction.
When he got out a few months ago, he invited Beaudet along as he delivered backpacks to homeless veterans. But now those actions have him in hot water again.
“Some people will look at this and say, come on, you were just in prison. You just pled out. Is this a stunt?” Beaudet asked at the time.
“No,” Murphy answered. “This is what I told you we were going to do, and finally we're being able to do it. I mean, the stuff was purchased way back when.”
5 Investigates tagged along with Murphy as he delivered the backpacks to the New England Center and Home for Veterans in Boston.
“How does this make you feel to do something like this?” Beaudet asked.
“Well, it's a completion of the project,” Murphy replied.
But after our story aired earlier this month, the probation department brought Murphy in for a probation violation hearing in Lynn District Court. As part of his probation, Murphy cannot be involved in "any charitable solicitation."
Murphy is on probation after pleading guilty to larceny and stolen valor charges from Swampscott in 2021.
The case is similar to what 5 Investigates saw him doing a year later, collecting cash and signatures to help homeless veterans. But only a small fraction on the money collected actually went to veterans. Murphy says the rest went to run the business and pay for the backpacks for homeless veterans.
Murphy tells 5 Investigates donating backpacks is not solicitation.
"Donating is the exact opposite of solicitation. I feel certain people in power are out to get me,” he said.
The court found probable cause that Murphy violated his probation, but the probation department did not ask the judge to send him back to prison.
A final hearing on the probation violation is scheduled for next month
Murphy is also facing a civil complaint from the Attorney General's office, and he has filed a countersuit in that case.