Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Yesterday police in Westport, Massachusetts arrested Dean Macedo of Fall River and charged him with five counts of Identity Fraud. Apparently Macedo, who was working as a sub-contractor for a construction company got a copy of certain contractor's licenses. Using that information he secured building permits in New Bedford. Macedo had his own roofing company. An employee at one of the jobs Macedo obtained through the permit scam was injured and filed a workman's compensation claim. Authorities quickly learned that Macedo had been pulling permits using the identity of others in several towns. The case will be prosecuted in the New Bedford District Court.

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http://www.abc6.com/news/86389667.html

Identity Fraud and Identity Theft in Massachusetts

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Section 37E prohibits Identity Fraud and Identity Theft in Massachusetts. The law states that anyone who uses someone else's personal identifying information for the purpose of making a financial gain shall be punished by up to two and one half years in the house of correction. This is a misdemeanor in Massachusetts. These crimes are becoming more prevalent in Massachusetts each day. It would not surprise me to see the potential punishment increased by the legislature in the near future, particularly in light of cases such as this one where someone is injured and without financial recourse due to the fraud.

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Lyn Toscano of Haverhill, Massachusetts is the assistant manager of the Registry of Motor Vehicles for the branch located in Haverhill. Earlier today Toscano was arraigned in the Haverhill District Court and charged with two counts of Soliciting a Bribe as a Public Employee, Conspiracy and Falsification of a Driver's License. It is alleged that the scheme in which she was involved started in September of 2008 and lasted until May of 2009. Authorities claim that Toscano was selling licenses to people who had not taken the driver's test. Police were tipped off by Richard Chase who ironically has been charged with Criminal Harassment of Toscano.

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Massachusetts Registry Worker Charged With Selling Driver's Licenses

Falsification of a Driver's License in Massachusetts

This crime is a felony in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 24B. The case can be prosecuted in either the District Court or the Superior Court and it carries with it a possible five year state prison sentence. If Toscano decides to Hire an Experienced Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer who understands Motor Vehicle Crimes she might be able to walk away from these charges without a criminal record.

Soliciting a Bribe as a Public Employee

This crime is proscribed by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 268A Section 2 and is also a felony in Massachusetts. A conviction of this crime is punishable by up to three years in state prison. This charge can also be continued without a finding so it is advisable that Toscano get a good lawyer right away.

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Erick Garcia's former girlfriend went to the police station last Thursday around 3:00 in the afternoon claiming that Garcia had committed several crimes against her including, Assault and Battery, Kidnapping, Stalking and Assault With a Dangerous Weapon after refusing to accept the couple's breakup. The woman reported that Garcia drove up to her, and dragged her into his car at knifepoint. Garcia further threatened that if he ever found her with another man he would kill both of them. He then stabbed her car seat with the knife and threatened to kill her daughter. It is alleged that some of the Threats were made by text message. Garcia is being held without bail pending a Dangerousness Hearing. The Massachusetts man now stands charged with those crimes in the Framingham District Court.

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Domestic Violence Charges Issue Against Framingham, Massachusetts Man Unable To Accept Breakup

Crimes involving Domestic Violence in Massachusetts are taken very seriously. Many of the crimes with which Garcia has been charged are felonies. There is a good chance that this case will be prosecuted in the Superior Court. Almost any time allegations such as this are made judges tend to hold the defendant without bail and schedule a dangerousness hearing at the request of the district attorney. It is critical that people charged with crimes involving these types of charges Hire an Experienced Massachusetts Domestic Violence Defense Lawyer. Getting the right lawyer can help you get released with a bail or possibly on personal recognizance. It is equally important to hire a lawyer who has successfully defended cases like these.

Continue reading "Framingham Massachusetts Man Rejected By Ex-Girlfriend Charged With Stalking, Kidnapping" »

Michael Ehlert is eighteen years old. Michael Leoni is seventeen year old. Both live in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Both are now facing serious felony charges in the Lynn District Court. It would not surprise me at all to see these charges indicted and prosecuted in the Essex County Superior Court in Salem. According to reports Ehlert and Leoni viciously attacked a school age boy who was walking home in the early evening hours on October 29, 2009. When the boy passed by the defendants they dragged him into a local cemetery, choked him, beat him, kicked him and searched him for money. They made him smoke a cigarette, stole his wallet and made him lead them to the victim's home where they located and stole his iPOd. As a result of these acts Leoni has been charged with Assault With Intent to Rob, Kidnapping, Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon and Larceny. Ehlert has been charged with the same crimes along with Intimidation of a Witness. All of these Crimes are Felonies in Massachusetts.

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Massachusetts Men Charged With Assorted Violent Crimes In Connection With Robbery Of Another Teenager

In the context of these facts all of these crimes are considered very Serious Felonies in Massachusetts. The Robbery charge alone carries a maximum life sentence. Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon carries a potential ten year sentence. Kidnapping convictions can also result in the imposition of a ten year state prison sentence. There are however a few thoughts that come to mind when reading about this case. How was it that nobody saw the victim being dragged into the cemetery? Why did he not yell out for help when walking back to house? Could he have run away when going back to his home or could he have yelled out to a neighbor for help? Was the attack unprovoked or was there something that precipitated the event? These are questions that an Experienced Massachusetts Defense Lawyer will address in preparing the defense of these defendants.

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This past Sunday evening, just past 6:30 p.m. members of the Quincy, Massachusetts Police Department executed a search warrant at John Keller's residence. The search warrant was issued after an eighteen month police investigation suggested that Keller was dealing drugs out of his Chester Street apartment. When the police searched the home they found Cocaine, Ecstasy, Heroin, and other Controlled Substances. They also found ammunition and nearly fifty thousand dollars cash. The investigation started as a result of neighbor complaint about numerous people making frequent visits to the apartment. As part of the investigation undercover police officers made controlled buys of various substances. During the search the police found over one hundred grams of cocaine, Class C drugs, Oxycodone pills, marijuana, digital scales and more. Keller has been charged with Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Heroin, a School Zone Violation, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and various Miscellaneous Crimes. Bail was set at one hundred thousand dollars cash in the Quincy, Massachusetts Man Held On Drug Trafficking, Gun Charges

It appears that the most serious charge is Cocaine Trafficking which in Massachusetts carries a minimum mandatory ten year sentence where the quantity exceeds one hundred grams. The School Zone Violation adds another two years to this sentence. If Keller is convicted of both of these crimes he will have to serve twelve years in state prison. Naturally as with any case there can be defenses to these allegations. I would expect to see a challenge to the issuance of the Search Warrant. It would not surprise me if people other than Keller were being investigated and had some involvement in these activities during the course of the investigation. Their roles might ameliorate some or all of Keller's responsibility for some of the crimes he has been charged with. One thing is certain. If he has not already done so Keller needs to Hire an Experienced Massachusetts Drug Defense Lawyer right away.

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Just after midnight the other day Framingham, Massachusetts police received a call from a local pizza restaurant employee complaining that Ryan McArthur was causing problems after he was denied entry to the establishment. When the police arrived they observed McArthur in the street waiving his arms. When they exited their cars McArthur supposedly then charged the officers. As the police tried to subdue McArthur the defendant struggled and tried to escape. He was ultimately apprehended and charged with two counts of Assault and Battery on a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest. Charges are now pending in the Framingham District Court.

Assault And Battery Charges Issue Against Framingham Man After Scuffle With Police

People think that Assault and Battery on a Police Officer is a difficult charge to defend. It is natural to think that a jury or a judge will believe a police officer over a defendant and that you have no chance to win a case like this one. That however is not true. As I have written in past blog posts Assault and Battery on a Police Officer is a charge that the police bring any time they apply force, particularly excessive force to a suspect. They realize that if they do not bring that charge they risk getting sued for their conduct. Experienced Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyers understand this trend and often prepare their client's defenses to these charges with that in mind.

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According to reports David Barry of Bridgewater, Massachusetts continually made telephone calls to a neighbor and the neighbor's wife over a nine month period. The offenses started in October of last year and ended this past June. The victim complained that Barry would call late at night, saying his wife's names and the word "die". Barry is reportedly involved in youth sports in the town of Bridgewater. Charges of Criminal Harassment and Making Annoying Phone Calls were filed against Barry in the Brockton District Court.

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Bridgewater, Massachusetts Man Charged With Making Annoying Phone Calls, Harassment In Brockton

Criminal Harassment in Massachusetts is a crime pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 Section 43A. The law states that anyone who "engages in a knowing pattern of conduct or series of acts over a period of time directed at a specific person, which seriously alarms that person and would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, shall be guilty of the crime of criminal harassment and shall be punished". A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two and one half years in the house of correction. A second offense is a felony that carries a potential ten year state prison sentence. Making Annoying Phone Calls is also a misdemeanor but with much lighter consequences. A conviction for this crime, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269 Section 14A carries a maximum three month jail sentence. More likely than not, assuming Barry has an Experienced Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer, he will walk away from these charges without a criminal record.

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Joshua Medeiros and Kimberly Vasconcellos had been watched by police for several months after neighbors complained about suspicious activity at their Somerset, Massachusetts home. The officers set up surveillance and confirmed the neighbor's complaints. They observed a pattern of cars pulling up to the home, someone entering the home and leaving after a short visit. Police also witnessed Medeiros meet with people just a short walk from the home and behind a neighboring school. They were able to set up a successful "controlled buy" with the help of an informant. With that information a search warrant was authorized. The search of the property yielded heroin, marijuana, marijuana plants and assorted drug possession and distribution paraphernalia. The couple has been charged with Conspiracy, Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin and Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Violation of the Massachusetts School Zone laws. Charges are now pending in the Fall River District Court.

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Search of Home in Somerset Leads Cops To Pot Plants, Drug Paraphernalia, Massachusetts Couple Charged

So what happens to Medeiros and Vasconcellos now? As with most drug cases the initial focus of the defense will be on the validity of the search warrant. There will likely be a challenge to the issuance of the warrant based on either the absence of probable cause in the supporting affidavit or the integrity of the facts stated in the supporting affidavit. If the challenge is unsuccessful the defense then might center on the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the charges against one or both defendants. Factors to consider are the relationship between the defendants, the location of the drugs found in the home, the defendant's habits as drug users, if any and more.

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Devin Joseph Sheehan-Powers of Boston was indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury last week following his arrest for a July 15, 2009 incident. According to reports Sheehan-Powers was observed by Lynn Police chasing down a disabled man while brandishing a knife. Law enforcement officers saw Sheehan-Powers then punch the victim in the face and steal his cell phone. The attack was described as brutal. The officers who witnessed the incident chased the defendant and were able to apprehend him shortly after observing the crime. He was found in possession of the knife and crack cocaine. Bail in the case has been set at ten thousand dollars. The case will now be transferred from the Lynn District Court to the Salem Superior Court. Sheehan-Powers has formally been charged with armed robbery, possession of cocaine, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, aggravated assault and battery, mayhem and resisting arrest.

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Boston Man Charged With Assortment Of Violent Crimes, Drug Possession After Assault On Winthrop Man

The crime of mayhem in Massachusetts is proscribed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 Section 14. The law states that the prosecution must prove that the defendant had the malicious intent to maim or disfigure the victim and that with that intent he "cuts out or maims the tongue, puts out or destroys an eye, cuts or tears off an ear, cuts, slits or mutilates the nose or lip, or cuts off or disables a limb or member, of another person". Alternatively the prosecution can obtain a conviction for this crime if it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, possessing the intent to "maim or disfigure, assaults another person with a dangerous weapon, substance or chemical, and by such assault disfigures, cripples or inflicts serious or permanent physical injury upon such person". A conviction of this crime carries a potential twenty year state prison sentence. The article suggests that the prosecution in this case will be proceeding under the second theory given the victim needed eye surgery at a Boston hospital.

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Last week Mark Snow of Rockland, Massachusetts was arrested for crimes that occurred earlier in the summer. He was charged with Breaking and Entering, Threatening to Commit a Crime, Malicious Destruction to Property and Assault. As to that case the prosecution alleged that Snow entered a home without permission, threw a rock through the window and threatened the occupant. Snow was released on those charges. Then, on September 12, 2009 he was arrested for Kidnapping. It was reported that a twenty four year old woman called the police to report that Snow unlawfully entered her apartment, assaulted her and confined her to her home. The woman stated that the incident occurred four hours prior to her making the call to the police. He is being held without bail at the Plymouth County House of Correction. Other charges Snow faces from the second incident are domestic assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, threats and witness intimidation.

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Massachusetts Man Arrested For Kidnapping Just Days After Being Charged With Assortment Of Violent Crimes

If the details of the article are accurate it seems strange that the woman would wait four hours to report a crimes as violent as this one appears. Violent crimes in Massachusetts are usually reported right away. When I am defending home invasion or breaking and entering cases almost every initial complaint is made by a 911 call either during or shortly after the event. Extensive delays in reporting without a valid excuse raise a red flag. Why did the victim wait to report the crime? Often times the reasons for the delay disclose an illicit motive for making an unfounded complaint in the first place. This provides Massachusetts Criminal Attorneys with viable defenses to the charges. It would not surprise me to see the second case against Snow resolved in the Hingham District Court.

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Adolfo Bonilla and Josue Ramirez-Gonzalez both from Waltham, Massachusetts had been banned from a local bar. They tried to gain entry and when they were denied both threatened to return with a gun and shoot and beat the owner. The police were immediately called. When they arrived Bonilla allegedly drove the car directly at the responding police car. The car stopped. Both suspects got out of the car and tried to flee and ended up struggling with the police. Ramirez-Gonzalez was charged with Malicious Destruction to Property for throwing a rock at a parked car as well as resisting arrest. Bonilla was charged with Resisting Arrest, various Motor Vehicle Crimes, Threatening to Commit a Crime and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The case is being prosecuted in the Waltham District Court.

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Waltham, Massachusetts Men Kicked Out Of Bar Threaten Owner, Get Arrested For Several Criminal Charges

Threatening to commit a crime is a violation of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 275 Section 2. The law makes clear that a conviction for the offense has a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a one hundred dollar fine. The irony in this case is that the bar owner was most probably scared by the threats yet this is the least of the defendant's problems. The malicious destruction to property charge is more serious particularly if the value of the property is two hundred fifty dollars or more. In that case the crime is a felony.

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A twenty one year old woman was sitting on her porch late last week when Pamphra Mulondo of Framingham, Massachusetts rode his bike by home. He stopped, pulled down his fly and fondled himself for two minutes. The woman then walked to a local drug store and saw Mulondo again. She became nervous and asked store employees to contact the police. The defendant was arrested and charged with open and gross lewdness and disorderly person. The case is pending in the Framingham District Court.

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Framingham Man Charged With Sex Crime After Fondling Himself In Front Of Woman

Open and gross lewdness in Massachusetts is a felony proscribed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Section 16. A conviction of this offense carries a possible three year state prison sentence or a two year house of correction sentence if the district attorney chooses to prosecute the case in the district court. This crime requires the district attorney to prove that the defendant intentionally, indecently and offensively exposed himself in such a way as to produce alarm. To convict someone of this crime a jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted in such a way as to alarm or shock. Here, the actions of the defendant appear to satisfy the elements of this offense. If he does not have a criminal record a good lawyer should be able to get this matter continued without a finding.

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This past Monday night Malden, Massachusetts police stopped a car that had been reported stolen in Brockton. After removing a passenger from the car the driver struck two police officers with his vehicle and pinned another officer against a parked vehicle. Two suspects, James Calo of Malden and Mark Dwyer of Framingham were arrested. A third suspect, Alexander Nesom was shot and killed by police officers. Dwyer initially evaded apprehension but was caught less than twelve hours later. When the police were able to stop the vehicle they found four bags of heroin on Calo. Charges of receiving motor vehicle and possession with the intent to distribute heroin are pending in the Malden District Court.

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Shooting Suspects Arrested And Arraigned In Malden District Court

One charge not mentioned in the article that I would think would issue is assault with the intent to murder. If the driver of the car deliberately drove into the three police officers he hit he can be charged with this crime. Assault with the intent to murder is a crime pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 Section 18. This crime is a felony and is punishable by up to twenty years on state prison. This crime must be prosecuted in the Superior Court. To prove armed assault with the intent to murder the government must proved beyond a reasonable that the defendants 1) committed an assault; 2) having a specific intent to kill the victim; and 3) that they did so acting with malice, which is defined as an absence of justification or mitigation. In cases such as this one the driver defends these charges by presenting evidence that he never intended to strike the officers with the vehicle, rather that he was trying to make his escape. The passenger's defense will embrace his lack of knowledge as to the actions that driver ultimately took.

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Just the other day a joint drug task force executed a search warrant at 43 Union Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Present at the time were Santos Sanchez and Yasmin Torres. Sanchez had outstanding federal warrants in other jurisdictions. During the execution of the search warrant law enforcement personnel found twenty two grams of cocaine, fourteen rounds of ammunition, a nine millimeter firearm, over eight grams of marijuana, drug trafficking paraphernalia and prescription pills. Sanchez is being held on a half million dollar bail. Sanchez was charged with trafficking cocaine, a school zone violation, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and related drug charges. Yasmin Torres has been charged with the same crimes and was released on a low bail.

Drugs, Guns Found At Home Of Southbridge, Massachusetts Man

There are a multitude of defense strategies often associated with these types of cases. For one thing the validity of the search warrant can be challenged through a motion to suppress the search and seizure. If successful all of the items seized pursuant to the search warrant get suppressed and cannot be used as evidence against the defendants. Motions to dismiss work at times as well on cases such as this one. Where there is not telling whose substances these are and it is legally impossible for the district attorney to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt the case can get dismissed. Trying cases like this one can result in an acquittal also. An Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer will try to attribute the drugs to the other defendant, particularly if the cases are severed.

Continue reading "Worcester County Man Charged With Trafficking Cocaine, Firearms Possession After Execution Of Search Warrant" »

Boston.com reported that two middle aged Massachusetts men are facing possible felony charges after a road rage incident that occurred shortly after six in the morning yesterday. According to the reports William Wilton was driving too slowly by Edward Murphy's standards. Wilton pulled over to let him pass by however Murphy stopped next to Wilton's car so that the two could exchange words. So what did Murphy then do? He waived a miniature baseball bat at Wilton in a threatening manner. Wilton then withdrew a firearm and brandished it towards Murphy. Murphy called the police and later gave a statement. Wilton was arrested and found in possession of a firearm that he is licensed to carry. The incident took place in Milton. Both men face charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. The case will be prosecuted in the Quincy District Court.

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Massachusetts Men Involved In Road Rage Incident Looking At Felony Charges

If this article is accurate and the men did not make incriminating statements this case is a defense attorney's dream. Both of the men have the right to exercise their Fifth Amendment privileges. That means that neither has to say anything in court. Should they choose to invoke this privilege the prosecution might not be able to prove its case. If charges issue against both of these men I would highly doubt that they would elect to testify against one another. It makes no sense. It is also a risky proposition in that truthful testimony would result in self-incrimination. Do not be surprised to see both of these cases get dismissed.

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