Overview:
Christopher C. Mundell, 39, of Athol, was found guilty of 16 crimes, including six counts of assault and battery on a family or household member, two counts of threatening to commit a crime, and single counts of suffocation, kidnapping, indecent assault and battery, assault with intent to commit rape, intimidation of a witness, breaking and entering during the daytime with the intent to commit a felony, vandalism and wanton destruction of property.
GREENFIELD — Following a two-day trial and three days of deliberation, a Franklin County Superior Court jury found an Athol man guilty on 16 charges, including assault and battery.
According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the jury on Monday convicted Christopher C. Mundell, 39, on six counts of assault and battery on a family or household member; two counts of threatening to commit a crime; and single counts of suffocation, kidnapping, indecent assault and battery, assault with intent to commit rape, intimidation of a witness, breaking and entering during the daytime with the intent to commit a felony, vandalism and wanton destruction of property.
Mundell was acquitted on one count of indecent assault and battery, and one count of withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding.
Sentencing for Monday’s conviction is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m. in Franklin County Superior Court, according to the DA’s office.
The convictions stem from a series of domestic violence and sexual assault offenses committed against Mundell’s former girlfriend in Montague and Athol between 2021 and 2022, according to the DA’s office. Evidence presented at trial also showed that Mundell threatened to kill the victim’s pets.
At the time of the crimes, Mundell was on probation following his 2010 conviction on charges related to sexually assaulting and stabbing a 2-year-old girl left in his care in May 2009, according to the DA’s office. Mundell had been sentenced to 11 to 13 years in state prison on that case and was released in 2021. In December 2024, based on his commission of these new crimes, Mundell was found in violation of his probation, leading him to be sentenced to another 2.5 years.
Following Monday’s conviction, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington praised the survivor’s strength.
“The survivor in this case showed tremendous courage by coming forward and testifying against Mr. Mundell in three separate proceedings,” Covington said in a statement. “The case was particularly egregious. We would also like to thank Detective Sgt. Doug Kaczmarczyk from the Athol Police Department for his thorough investigation, which played a crucial role in securing these convictions.”
Covington and Assistant District Attorney Jillian Parent prosecuted the case with Victim Witness Advocate Kim Devine working with the survivor. Mundell was represented by Attorney Austin Andenmatten from Woburn. The case was tried before Judge Jeremy Bucci.