A former grand juror who admitted to leaking witness data with connections to the Karen Learn case has misplaced her job with the state Division of Kids and Households, in response to her lawyer.
Keith Halpern, representing Jessica Leslie, 34, of Dracut, has shared that his consumer’s employment with DCF was “recently terminated,” simply days earlier than she is scheduled to be sentenced in Boston federal court docket.
A DCF spokesperson confirmed to the Herald that Leslie is “no longer employed” by the company. On account of state confidentiality necessities, the company is barred from commenting on the specifics of personnel issues.
Leslie pleaded responsible final month to one felony rely of legal contempt within the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Massachusetts, for leaking data from her time as a grand juror in two circumstances from Might 2022 to February 2024.
Halpern is requesting, as a part of a plea settlement with prosecutors, that Decide Indira Talwani sentence Leslie to “one day, deemed served,” which might end in no jail time for the previous grand juror.
The sentencing is ready for subsequent Thursday.
Leslie admitted to sharing data from grand jury proceedings with an individual she advised prosecutors she “was good friends with,” who then posted data on an X account. The leaks occurred from Aug. 11, 2022 and March 4, 2024, and included the names of witnesses, testimony given and proof introduced.
In his sentencing memorandum, Halpern said Leslie started working at DCF in 2017 earlier than pursuing and acquiring a grasp’s diploma, which helped her earn a promotion to a supervisor place this previous Might.
“Not long after the communications to her friend, she was promoted to a supervisor position, achieving a goal she’d worked towards for many years,” Halpern wrote within the memo, filed on Thursday.
“She recently was terminated,” the lawyer added. “Her career path illustrates her commitment to her work, her commitment to helping families in need, and what she has lost.”
In keeping with state payroll information, Leslie had earned $60,615 in 2025, up till her termination. Final 12 months, the social employee took house $88,468.
In her supervisory position, Leslie oversaw as much as 5 social staff, together with “monthly unit meetings, individual supervision, and ongoing support and collaboration with the social workers on their case management,” in response to Halpern.
“She’d achieved her goal and had a job she loved,” Halpern wrote. “Now it’s gone.”
“Prior to this case, Ms. Leslie had never been charged with a crime,” he added. “What she has already gone through, and what she will have to deal with in the future due to the loss of her job, sends a clear message that the violation of grand jury secrecy is a serious offense, and risks wholly upending one’s life.”
Although the grand jury investigations in query haven’t been revealed within the court docket proceedings or paperwork, a number of media retailers have reported one of many circumstances associated to the state police’s dealing with of the dying of John O’Keefe and the investigation of Karen Learn, citing unnamed sources.
A jury in Learn’s second trial cleared the defendant in June of killing O’Keefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend of two years on the time, along with her SUV.
Doreen DiCienzo, a supervisor on the Cape Ann DCF workplace in Beverly, stated in a letter she submitted to the court docket that she met Leslie on the primary day of her employment in 2017.
DiCienzo highlighted that Leslie was “balancing the demands of her job, attending graduate school, and going through a divorce” on the time she was chosen as a grand juror.
“There has never been a time … I was concerned (of) her breaking confidentiality in any of the cases that she was assigned,” DiCienzo stated of Leslie. “I was never concerned about the accuracy of her verbal reports to me and her written documentation.”
“Jessica has always presented herself with goals, determination, and drive,” DiCienzo added. “The situation that she faces currently is what I would characterize as completely out of character.”
