Springfield, MA – Bail Set in Jewish Cemeteries Vandalism Case

Springfield, MA – Bail was set at $25,000 cash for a 19-year-old West Springfield man who pleaded innocent in Hampden Superior Court to five counts of vandalizing gravestones.

Michael Ouimet, of 310 Park St., was first arraigned on Sept. 13 in District Court for vandalism at Jewish cemeteries in West Springfield. At that time, he was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Dozens of gravestones were toppled in cemeteries off Kings Highway during Labor Day weekend. The damaged stones were in cemeteries associated with congregations Beth El, B'Nai Jacob and Kodimoh, all in Springfield, and Beth Israel in Longmeadow. The adjacent St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic cemetery was left undamaged.

Ouimet's lawyer, Patrick Ryan Sparks, asked for a hearing about bail, and Hampden Superior Court Judge Cornelius J. Moriarty II decided that Ouimet could be released on his own recognizance with electronic monitoring.

But Ouimet was arrested for a few days in Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow, which is a violation of his probation. Information wasn't available why Ouimet has been arrested. So now Judge Peter A. Velis set $25,000 cash bail, or $250,000 surety. [masslive]