Abuse Order Was Not Violated
By Gary V. Murray
The co-founder of the Church of the End Times in Uxbridge was acquitted Thursday on a charge of violating an abuse prevention order obtained against him by his estranged wife. It took a Central District Court jury less than 20 minutes of deliberations to find Dennis H. Stanley, 36, not guilty of the charge, which resulted from an allegation by Beth Ellen Stanley that her estranged husband came within 100 yards of her home at 41 Murphy’s Way, Uxbridge, on Oct. 21, in violation of the restraining order. Ms. Stanley testified that she was looking out an upstairs window in the direction of her brother-in-law’s house at 51 Murphy’s Way on the afternoon of Oct. 21 when she saw her husband walking from the area of Route 122 toward his brother David’s home. Ms. Stanley said Dennis Stanley “froze” when she opened the window and yelled out that she had seen him, then continued into his brother’s house. David Stanley is the pastor of the nondenominational Church of the End Times he and his brother founded and Dennis Stanley is the second-in-command pastor. Ms. Stanley said she called the police after seeing her husband and reported that he had violated the restraining order. Police Officer Thomas Stockwell, the only other witness called by Assistant District Attorney Edward N. Karcasinas Jr., testified that he went to 51 Murphy’s Way and spoke to David Stanley, who told him his brother was not there. The officer said he returned to 41 Murphy’s Way and asked Ms. Stanley to give him a written statement. In his closing argument, Mr. Stanley’s lawyer, Kevin Quinlan, said the only incriminating evidence against his client was the testimony of his estranged wife. Mr. Quinlan said Ms. Stanley had “a motive to lie” because she has initiated divorce proceedings against Mr. Stanley. Mr. Karcasinas told the jury of four women and two men that the evidence showed Mr. Stanley intentionally violated the restraining order. He asked the jurors to find him guilty. Still pending against Mr. Stanley is another violation of a restraining order charge related to an allegation that he violated the order obtained by Ms. Stanley on Oct. 11. Judge Michael L. Fabbri set a Feb. 25 trial date in that case after rejecting a recommendation by Mr. Karcasinas and Mr. Quinlan that he continue the charge without a plea or finding for six months. The Stanley brothers are also owners of Driveways Corp., a paving company housed at 19 Industrial Drive, Uxbridge, where the church is also located. Contact: gmurray@telegram.com
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