Novas, Edwin v. Worcester County District Attorney's Office (SPR 20260807)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records March 9, 2026 SPR26/0807 Mark Relation, Esq. Assistant District Attorney Records Access Officer Worcester District Attorney’s Office 225 Main Street, G301 Worcester, MA 01608 Dear Attorney Relation: I have received the petition of Edwin Novas appealing the nonresponse of the Worcester District Attorney’s Office (Office) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 15, 2026, Mr. Novas requested records in “[an identified matter], that name [an identified individual], with [an identified birthdate] [identifying information] may appear[.]” Specifically, Mr. Novas sought the following: [1] All written or recorded statements[;] [2] All police reports[;] [3] All photographs[;] [4] All reports of physical examinations or other medical records of any person[;] [5] All scientific tests and experiments[;] [6] All identification reports, procedures, relevant to the issue of identity[;] [7] All promises, rewards, cooperation agreements, or inducements made to anyone[;] [8] All records of convictions of witnesses[;] [9] All investigatory notes from Dec. 23, 1999-Present, electronically or handwritten recorded, or otherwise memorialized, to include but not limited to, field notes, contemporaneous notes of interviews, discussions, and debriefings[;] [10] Debriefing memos[;] [11] All investigatory reports[;] [12] All internal affairs files, including but not limited to, complete Anti- Corruption and Personnel files, redacted, as necessary, to comply with any privacy exemptions, of each, law enforcement employee that filed any report or other document regarding [an identified individual], [an identified birthdate…[;] [13] All memoranda analyzing the evidence garnered by the investigation into this One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Mark Relation, Esq. SPR26/0807 Page 2 March 9, 2026 matter and [an identified individual][;] [14] All memoranda between any District Attorney’s Office, or specifically this District Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement agencies or departments, to include but not limited to, those of the United States of America and any Foreign government, including the Dominican Republic, to include but not limited to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, Bureau of Alocohol [sic], Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and all State police and local police departments[;] [15] All chains of custody of material in the custody of this District Attorney’s Office or law enforcement departments or agencies working with this District Attorney’s Office, to include but not limited to, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab[;] [16] All notes by any prosecutor during witness interviews[;] [17] All emails between any prosecutor and law enforcement, to include all State and Federal agencies of departments[;] [18] All emails of other communications between State Police Troopers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case, both between themselves and the District Attorney’s Office[;] [19] All electronic trial files[;] [20] The entire case file[;] [21] All memos or memoranda between any prosecutor and their supervisor[;] [22] All exculpatory information, even if the note or memoranda is otherwise protected as work product, memorialized im [sic] a form that can be shared as a public record, whether through redaction or otherwise[;] [23] All emails to and from all Assistant District Attorneys involved in the prosecution of this case that reference this case in any manner[.] Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Novas petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR26/0807, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the Office has provided a response. Accordingly, the Office is ordered to provide Mr. Novas with a response to his request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Novas may appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1).

Mark Relation, Esq. SPR26/0807 Page 3 March 9, 2026 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Edwin Novas