LEICESTER — On Friday, May 1, 2026, Detective Robert Noone of the Leicester Police Department was dispatched to the station lobby to speak with an adult female who wished to report a past sexual assault.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Statement of Facts of Detective Robert Noone and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Upon my arrival, I met with [the reporting party] in the lobby, who advised she was sexually assaulted,” Detective Noone said. “I asked her if she was feeling up to an interview now. She stated she was, and we proceeded to sit together in the non-recorded interview room off the lobby.”
Detective Noone said the reporting party, a Leicester Lions Club member, told him that another club member physically assaulted her during an advisory meeting at the Leicester Senior Center on April 29, 2026.
The woman stated that at approximately 9:00 p.m., after the meeting concluded and while people were standing around talking, she was assaulted by Joseph W. Allen.
According to police, Joseph W. Allen, 70, is a resident of Winchendon, MA.
Detective Noone said the reporting party told him that while she was speaking with a fellow Lions Club member named Keith, Allen approached her from behind, bumped into her and said, “Oh, excuse me.”
“l asked her how his body contacted her body and [she] stated that ‘the front of Joseph’s body (genital area) went across my buttocks,’” Detective Noone said.
The reporting party said Allen then immediately left the building and returned to his car.
Detective Noone said the reporting party emphasized that the room’s layout provided ample space between the tables and chairs for people to walk through, giving Allen no reason to come near her, let alone bump into her.
“[The reporting party] added that as she was being walked out of the building by Keith, she saw Joseph sitting in his car in the LSC [Leicester Senior Center] parking lot, which she believes is a Dodge Journey,” Detective Noone said. “As an official within the Lions Club, [the reporting party] also stated to me that Joseph has a reputation across several different Lions Clubs for inappropriately touching other female members, in some cases kissing their faces and touching their bodies without consent.”
Detective Noone said the reporting party also told him that she was afraid of Allen.
“She also stated to me that Joseph’s wife stated to her that Joseph is on a medication to control sexually deviant behaviors,” Detective Noone said. “At my request, [the reporting party] provided a written statement.”
Detective Noone said he contacted Keith in the days that followed and arranged a witness interview at the station. Keith arrived for the interview at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
“[Keith] stated that he is in the same local Lions Club as [the reporting party] and was present at the Leicester Senior Center for the Lions Club awards/year-end ceremony at the Leicester Senior Center on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in the evening,” Detective Noone said.
Detective Noone said Keith told him that he saw Allen, a member of the Phillipston Lions Club, assault the reporting party at the end of the meeting on April 29.
“Specifically, Keith stated he observed Joseph deliberately bump the front of his body into [the reporting party’s] backside as well as place a hand on her waist,” Detective Noone said. After Allen bumped into the reporting party’s backside, Keith said she lost her footing.
“Keith stated that after the assault, Joseph walked out to his vehicle,” Detective Noone said. “Moments after that, Keith walked [the reporting party] out, where they departed the property in their respective vehicles.”
Detective Noone said that on June 24, he contacted Allen and requested a call back.
When Allen had not returned Detective Noone’s call by June 28, 2026, the detective contacted Winchendon police dispatch and asked that a patrol officer visit Allen’s residence and ask him to return his call.
At 9:50 a.m. on June 29, 2026, Detective Noone contacted the Winchendon Police Department and learned that Officer Justin Smith had spoken with Allen at his residence the previous day and delivered the message.
On July 5, 2026, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Detective Noone said he visited Allen at his home in Winchendon.
“I was greeted at the side door of the home, under the right-side carport, by Joseph,” Detective Noone said. “After I advised that I was there to investigate a reported assault and battery, Joseph welcomed me into his home and offered me a seat in his living room.”
Detective Noone said he asked Allen and his wife, who was also present, if he could record the audio and video of their conversation using his body camera, and they said yes.
Detective Noone said that Allen confirmed that he was present at the Lions Club meeting at the Leicester Senior Center on April 29, 2026.
“After Joseph confirmed his presence, I asked him if [the reporting party] was present as well. Joseph stated she was,” Detective Noone said.
Detective Noone said he then asked Allen if his body ever made contact with the reporting party’s body during the meeting.
Allen replied, “I don’t remember if it happened,” and added, “So, I said ’scuse me.” He continued, “If I did, I don’t remember, sir. I probably did and don’t remember.” Allen then stated, “Maybe she was going into the hall and I was going out,” adding, “that could happen.”
Detective Noone said Allen then asked, “Is that a crime?” After the detective explained that assault and battery is a crime, Allen responded, “If I hit her and I didn’t say nuthin’, I’m sorry.”
“Joseph then stated it took place ‘in the hallway, not outside the building, inside the building’ and added that he ‘bumped into a couple of people that night,’” Detective Noone said. “While continuing to discuss the allegation, Joseph stated that ‘if I was behind her and I bumped into her, I’m sorry.’ I requested clarification from Joseph that if it happened, where did it happen, and he stated, ‘On my way in, or in line.’”
Detective Noone asked Allen to clarify what he meant by “in line” and learned that he was referring to the table-by-table line for food.
“Joseph alluded to the fact that I had been told what happened,” Detective Noone said. “I stated that I was told what happened by the victim and a witness. I advised Joseph that witness accounts have him intentionally bumping into [the reporting party] at the end of the evening and then exiting the building immediately after assaulting [her]. I then asked if that would be accurate. Joseph stated ‘Yeah probably’ and ‘I don’t remember that,’ and ‘We were all trying to get out.’”
Detective Noone said that based on the outcome of his investigation, there was probable cause to charge Allen, and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.
Joseph W. Allen, 70, of Winchendon, was charged with the following:
- Assault & Battery +60/Disabled
- Indecent Assault & Battery on Person Over 14 Years of Age
Allen was arraigned in East Brookfield District Court on July 22, 2026. Following his arraignment, he was ordered to stay away from the Leicester Lions Club.
Allen’s next court date is a pretrial conference hearing scheduled for Sept. 9, 2026.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the warrant in this story was issued in July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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