is a federal case so could Farwell face the death penalty and what about the other officers named in a wrongful death lawsuit Boston 25 news reporter Daniel coats is live for us outside the federal courthouse tonight digging into those issues for us Daniel yeah Markin as crazy as today was our security and legal experts assured me that this is just the beginning in a long road to Justice not just for Farwell but also involving two other Sten officers facing some pretty alarming allegations that could potentially lead to charges down the line everyone has every right to question law enforcement in this in stunning allegations out of stoen led to the arrest of former police officer Matthew Farwell Wednesday now facing federal charges that could put him on death row it's erods the very trust and fabric of the community and policing that we have in the area in the region secury analyst and former Boston Police Chief Dan Linsky called this a blow to law enforcement all across New England yeah in this case wasn't a bad apple it looks like it was a bunch of bad apples in two years ago stoen police found that Farwell his coworker and brother William alongside former deputy chief Robert dine all had inappropriate contact with birchmore Farwell is now charged with killing a witness or victim after years of allegations there's been investigation into the abuse of this girl since she was 15 years old by several members of the stoen police department and so she could uh be car characterized as a witness in that investigation of the abuse P attorney Philip Tracy said with all similar federal charges the death sentence for Farwell if convicted is possible but ultimately up to Washington to decide if they'll pursue with the idea of abusing and using the child and then killing her while pregnant I think you could make a case that this is a death penalty case but that decision will have to wait for some time Linsky assured us there will however be changes Statewide to how departments are run and who's left to oversee their power every officer in New England every officer across the country is going to have to work harder at reestablishing that trust and winsky also assured me that investigators at this point are still combing through decade worth of evidence in this case and into the allegations that also involve Farwell and those two other Sten police officers as I mentioned again charges could be coming down the line for now I'm Boston I'm Daniel coach for your local station Boston 25 News Daniel thank you when there is breaking news in this case turn to Boston 25 News and the 25 news app we send out alerts like this one when there are updates and the notification will take you right to the story on our website