South Shore science teacher charged with 'terrorist threats'

HANOVER − Police are charging a Hanover High School science teacher with threatening to bring a rifle to school in response to a disciplinary action taken against him by the school's principal, Matthew Mattos, according to Hingham District Court documents.

Kenneth Decie, 54, of Quincy, made the threat in September while discussing the disciplinary matter with Steve Henderson, a fellow teacher and president of the Hanover Teachers Association, in a common room for staff, according to the police report.

Another teacher present in the room on Sept. 19, was troubled by what she overheard and reported the alleged threat to her department head. The teacher quoted Decie as saying, "When something like that happens, it makes me want to go home and get my rifle," according to the police report.

That same teacher told a detective that several staff members knew Decie had received a disciplinary notice from Mattos and that he was “fired up more than normal.” Decie had let others know that he felt angry at being "targeted," the teacher said. It is unclear what prompted the disciplinary action against Decie.

The teacher told police she felt "concerned" and "not sure of what Decie could be capable of doing," the report states.

When Mattos learned of the incident, he brought it to the attention of Superintendent of Schools Matthew Ferron, at which point a decision was made to put Decie on administrative leave. It is unclear whether his leave of absence was paid or unpaid.

When asked for comment, Mattos referred all inquiries to Ferron. Ferron said Decie no longer works for the school district..

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In a police interview, Henderson of the teachers union confirmed that he and Decie were speaking about the disciplinary notice, and that he repeatedly had to calm Decie down. Henderson told the detective that Decie made the comment about the rifle, but it was taken out of context.

Henderson said he wished the conversation had taken place in a more private setting, the report says.  He told The Patriot Ledger that he and the union have no comment at this time.

In a telephone interview, Decie told police that he didn’t recall making the comment about the rifle. When questioned about firearms at his residence, he said he did not own or possess any, the report says. Decie did not respond to a phone message requesting comment.

A background check on Decie turned up no criminal record and showed that at one time he possessed a firearms identification card and license to carry, but both had expired, according to the police report.

Hanover police obtained and executed a search warrant for Decie’s Quincy home. No evidence was found, according to the report.

Hanover Detective Stephen Moar initially requested a criminal complaint against Decie on a charge of threatening to commit assault. Later, it was decided to charge Decie under a different law dealing with “terroristic threats” that cause “anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort to any person or groups of persons.”

Under Massachusetts law, threatening to commit a crime carries a maximum punishment of a $100 fine and no more than six months imprisonment. Terroristic threats can carry a heavier penalty, including a maximum of 20 years in state prison, 21-and-a-half years in the house of correction, a $10,000 fine or both fine and imprisonment.

Decie is scheduled to be arraigned on April 24 at Hingham District Court.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Hanover High School teacher charged threatening principal