Man Convicted of Salem Murder Denied Parole

A Beverly man who pled guilty to second-degree murder for the 1987 shooting death of Raymond Bufalino was denied parole in a decision released by Massachusetts Parole Board late last week.  

Charles Doucette, 53, "clearly poses a threat to public safety,” District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said.  “On multiple occasions, while out on bail or while on parole, Mr. Doucette has engaged in threats and serious acts of violence which call into question his ability to function in society.” 

On February 21, 1987, Charles Doucette shot Raymond Bufalino twice in the head over a dispute about money, while they sat in the victim’s car near the Salem-Peabody city line. 

While out on bail, Doucette threatened to kill a Commonwealth witness in the pending murder case.  A jury convicted Doucette of first-degree murder but the Superior Court trial judge vacated the verdict and released Doucette. 

After, the Supreme Judicial Court, (ruling on an appeal filed by the Essex District Attorney’s Office) reinstated the first degree murder verdict Doucette was granted a motion for a new trial.  After he posted bail and was released in 1991, he committed two violent home invasions in Peabody and Lynnfield.

In December of 1991, Doucette pleaded guilty to second degree murder of Raymond Bufalino, witness intimidation, 3 counts of home invasion,  3 counts of armed robbery, and two counts of stealing by confining or putting a person in fear.  He was sentenced to seven (7) concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole.

In 2006, Doucette was granted parole after serving 15 years over the objection of the Essex District Attorney’s Office. 

On February 14, 2011, Beverly Police arrested Doucette and charged him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation and threats. 

The Essex District Attorney’s Office filed a dangerousness petition requesting that Doucette be held without bail while the case was pending, which was granted by a district court judge.  As a result, the Parole Board revoked Doucette’s parole.  On March 20, 2012, the Parole Board held a hearing to determine whether Doucette should be released.

The Board also imposed the maximum review period of five years.  

In opposing his parole, Essex Assistant District Attorney and Appeals Division Chief Elin Graydon argued that Mr. Doucette has never taken responsibility for the “execution-style” murder of Bufalino, has minimized his drug and alcohol use and has failed to engage in any meaningful programming while incarcerated to address these issues.  “Until and unless he confronts and addresses the causative factors of the murder, he is not an appropriate candidate for release on parole.”

Drawn from a press release by the District Attorney's Office.