August 1, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lindsay Corcoran 508-368-7252 or 774-670-8811
WORCESTER – Alberto Sierra pleaded guilty today to three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery and two counts of reckless endangerment of a child, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
Sierra pleaded guilty to the seven charges that stem from incidents involving his girlfriend, Elsa Oliver, and two of her three children. He was sentenced to 6 to 7 years in state prison with 3 years of probation and a requirement that he undergo a mental health evaluation, complete the certified batterer’s program and stay away from all victims. The District Attorney’s Office had recommended a sentence of 6 to 10 years in state prison and 6 to 10 years on and after on the two assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges. The recommendation also included 5 years of probation and a requirement that Sierra undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations and complete the certified batterer’s intervention program.
The District Attorney also today filed a nolle prosequi on five other counts Sierra was facing regarding the third child, Jeremiah Oliver, including kidnapping of a child under 16, assault and battery on a child with bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, permitting assault and battery of a child with bodily injury, and reckless endangerment of a child.
The 5-year-old Fitchburg boy was found one month after the defendant, Sierra, had been indicted on those assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges. Jeremiah Oliver was discovered missing in late 2013. His remains were found on April 18, 2014 in a suitcase off I-190 in Sterling. Jeremiah’s death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. That investigation is active and ongoing, and is currently being investigated by the State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and Fitchburg Police. The current charges involving the defendant and Jeremiah Oliver are nolle prossed at this time to allow the death investigation to continue.
Ms. Oliver, Jeremiah’s mother, was also indicted and is still facing charges.