Before word about the sexual assault charges came out, Magno was in the news because two organizations wanted to basically knock WAVM off the air--UMass's WUMB and a religious broadcaster named Living Proof. While WAVM did have little
"wattage" and limited broadcast hours, it did do everything
from broadcasting church services to doing fundraising drives
for charity, etc.
So it was a David and Goliath battle but eventually a deal
would be made where UMass would help WAVM put a stronger signal on the air, and WUMB would re-broasdcast the UMass
station what it wasn't on the air with its own programming,
and the religious outfit would get on the air but with a signal pointed away from Maynard so that WAVM could stay on.
Magno was seen as a hero, not just for his continued work at the station, but for these efforts, etc.
Then the news came about the sex assault charge on a teen--
and over a dozen other former students came forth with
similar accusations...And, as I said, I noticed online last night a couple sites where victims of Magno and other
pedophiles discussed how they could put sickos like him
in jail, etc. Now Magno dies days before his trial is due
to start.
Just saw a report on Ch 7 about this. His attorney, Don Demayo, said that the past year was too much on Magno's
health (diabetes/heart disease)--implying that all the pressure about these accusations helped to speed his
demise. Demayo claims that Magno is innocent but his death
has denied him the chance to clear his name in court.
The Maynard police chief, a former student of Magno himself,
says that the court case was focusing on one person's
charge (of being raped by Magno over a period of three
years) but again, others have claimed to have been molested
by him as well. Now Magno's legal team hopes to appear
in court later this week in an effort to have the
charges dropped, since their client has died...