Jeanne Kempthorne will serve as chief of appeals and legal counsel and Richard Dohoney will be deputy district attorney in the Berkshire district attorney's office.
Harrington Adds Two More to District Attorney's Office Leadership
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — District Attorney-elect Andrea Harrington added two more individuals to her leadership team on Tuesday.
Richard Dohoney will be brought on as Harrington's deputy district attorney and Jeanne Kempthorne will serve as chief of appeals and legal counsel. Dohoney, of Great Barrington, is currently the city solicitor. Kempthorne is a former federal prosecutor working in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston for 11 years.
The two join Karen Bell, who was previously announced as the office's first assistant.
"I am excited to bring such an experienced and talented group of prosecutors and legal professionals to serve as my senior leadership team in the Berkshire County district attorney's office. Jeanne Kempthorne, Rich Dohoney, and Karen Bell are recognized as statewide leaders in the legal community," Harrington said in a statement released Tuesday.
"Working together with residents, law enforcement, local elected officials, and community-based organizations, we are all ready to get to work for the residents of Berkshire County each and every day."
Dohoney is currently with Donovan, O'Connor & Dodig and has 18 years experience in litigation. He's tried cases in District, Superior, and Federal Court. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, on the Executive Committee of the Berkshire Bar Association, and has served on the Civil Litigation Counsel of the Massachusetts Bar Association. He graduated Boston College and Suffolk University Law School.
As deputy district attorney, Dohoney will lead district court and juvenile court prosecutions, will oversee administrative staff, and is responsible for implementing new initiatives.
"I am honored that District Attorney-elect Harrington has asked me to serve in this new role. I was inspired by the vision she articulated during her campaign and look forward to putting my courtroom skills to work to improve our community," Dohoney said in a statement.
Kempthorne worked 11 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston as part of the major crimes unit, economic crimes unit, and chief of public corruption and special prosecution unit. In 2005, she was appointed to the state Ethics Commission. She also worked 25 years in a private practice specializing in appellate and post-conviction. She is a graduate of Harvard/Radcliffe College and Berkeley Law School.
As chief of appeals and legal counsel, she will oversee training, ethics, appeals, and diversion.
"I look forward to working closely with District Attorney-elect Harrington and her dedicated team to make a meaningful impact on the safety and livability of Berkshire County. Andrea will bring a new and effective approach to our justice system, and I am excited to be a part of her leadership team," Kempthorne said in a statement.
Harrington takes over the office in January after defeating incumbent Paul Caccaviello in the November election.
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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
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