Former Framingham Fire Inspector Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption Charges

Todd Young, 42, who resigned from the Framingham Fire Department on March 19, entered a plea of not guilty to corruption charges in Middlesex County court.

Young, who was employed with the Framingham Fire Department as an inspector, is accused of requesting personal favors from a now-closed massage parlor Framingham firefighter in exchange for the business not to receive code violations. The Framingham resident was arraigned on April 3.

Young, who worked for the Framingham Fire department for a dozen years, was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of accepting a corrupt gift, falsifying an official report, and obstruction, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. Before Young resigned, his salary with the Town of Framingham was just under $55,000.

On January 17, Framingham Police were conducting surveillance of an Asian massage parlor - Chi Gong Tuina Body Work" located at 406 Union Ave., in Framingham, according to court documents.

Police observed a black Ford Explorer with municipal license plates park in the rear of the building at about 11 a.m. A man, later identified as Young, dressed in a dark blue uniform with a red patch on his left sleeve entered the building and exited about 30 minutes later, according to court documents.

After the Explorer drove away from the building, Framingham Police, according to court documents, pulled over the vehicle. The person driving the vehicle, identified himself to Framingham Police as an firefighter and fire inspector for the Town of Framingham (Young).

Young, according to court documents, told police he had been to the massage parlor about two weeks earlier and that the business failed its inspection because employees had covered two smoke detectors with rubber gloves.

Young told police he issued a verbal warning at that time and returned on January 17 to re-inspect the business. He said on January 17, he found no violations, according to court documents.

Just before 12:30 p.m. on January 17, Framingham Police visited the massage parlor and talked to two female employees.

While in the now-closed Union Avenue business, Framingham Police observed two smoke detectors inside the business covered with rubber gloves, according to court documents.

One employee told Framingham Police the firefighter had told them the covering of the smoke detectors were a violation and to avoid a fine he "requested 'Body Work' in exchange for not issuing the violation," according to the court documents filed by Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Tarrant.

One employee said she "massaged the defendant's legs and back but did not perform any sexual act." She told police January 17 was the first time the firefighter had been to their business.

The other employee said she gave the "defendant a 'hand job', while her partner (the other employee) massaged his legs" according to the court documents.

Both women told police they were living in their business and they had never seen Young before January 17, 2014.

According to court documents, Young spoke with detectives later in the day on January 17 at the Framingham Police station. Police informed him of his rights but he still agreed to speak, according to the court documents.

Young told Framingham Police detectives he went to 406 Union Ave. to see if anyone was living in the business and to inspect the smoke detectors. Young told police he did not see gloves on the smoke detectors nor did he see signs anyone was living in the location on January 17.

According to court documents, when police told Young what the female employees said, Young told police he "disrobed to his underwear and received 'bodyworks' from both women. The defendant denied that either woman performed a sexual act on him, but said that he 'did himself.'

Young then told Police he did not pay the women any money on January 17 for the "bodyworks."

Young was released on bail following his arraignment.