Former official sentenced for sex assault

The former chairman of the School Committee started serving a one-year jail sentence Monday after pleading guilty earlier that day in Central District Court in Worcester to child sexual assault charges.

Joseph F. Ferrie, 75, of 188 Rochdale St., also pleaded guilty yesterday in Dudley District Court on a charge of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to court records.

Mr. Ferrie, who resigned from the School Committee and School Building Committee on Nov.14, pleaded guilty Monday in Central District Court, in front of Judge Robert L. Howarth, to two charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to records in that court.

Mr. Ferrie originally faced charges in the Worcester court on one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and rape of a child with force. The rape charge was amended to indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to Mr. Ferrie’s lawyer, Mark L. Monopoli.

Mr. Monopoli declined to comment on why the charge was amended.

Mr. Ferrie was sentenced Monday by Judge Howarth to two-and-a-half years in the House of Correction, with one year to serve and the balance of the sentence suspended for three years, according to documents in both courts and Mr. Monopoli.

Mr. Ferrie was in the Dudley court yesterday, in front of Judge Neil G. Snider, for his sentencing on the charge filed last November by Dudley police.