Last week, I began this mini-series about perspectives in the criminal justice system. I started with that of the police officers. As the week went on, the news was more and more full of examples illustrating my point. First, the only alleged police misconduct dominating the Boston news in took…
Perhaps it is my fault. Maybe I have been concentrating on tales of police investigations into crimes like murder, robbery and assault, that I have neglected to remind you that the “self-help” approach is seldom applauded in criminal justice. I know that this may be counter-intuitive for many of you,…
In Lynn District Court, Fernando Aristy, a 24-year-old Chelsea man, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of Massachusetts murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault to murder. Aristy is accused of injuring 34-year-old Peabody resident Chad McDonald so severely during a fight earlier this month that…
You may have noticed that many Massachusetts crimes are ones in which the defendant had to have had the pre-requisite intent to commit the crime. The element of intent is not, however, necessary for all criminal acts. For example, let’s say that I had a really bad day today and…
The teen mother accused of throwing her newborn 17 feet into an East Boston Alley after giving birth to him in a bathtub on September 20 has been arraigned. In East Boston District Court on Tuesday, 18-year-old Eva Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges of Massachusetts assault and battery…
…And so the bullying battles in South Hadley rage on. You may remember South Hadley. Last year, Phoebe Prince, new to our shores, committed suicide there. Immediately, the finger of blame was pointed at schoolmates who had been bullying her. Almost as immediately, the local District Attorney, Elizabeth Scheibel (hereinafter,…
In yesterday’s Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog, I discussed a bank manager and his buddy who have found themselves in the sites of the Massachusetts criminal justice system. The charge was assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a hammer and a football. Today, it is a Massachusetts state…
Last Friday morning, Boston was the scene of an alleged attack upon a street cleaning vehicle. This was a felony –type assault, complete with dangerous weapons. The identity of the suspects, though, might surprise you. Both gentlemen, Craig S., 23, and Piero P., 26, (hereinafter, collectively, the “Defendants”), are from…
In Boston Municipal Court today, Piero G. Procopio and Craig S. Strasnick pleaded not guilty to Massachusetts assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges. The two men are accused of taking a football and a hammer and attacking Warren McMasters, who drives a street cleaning truck. The attack allegedly…
Yesterday, we discussed Darryl B., (hereinafter, again, the “Defendant”) and his legal difficulties resulting from a confrontation with local police in Allston, MA. Said difficulties resulted in the awarding of the Commonwealth bracelets of shame, involuntary Commonwealth housing and various criminal charges including Armed Robbery, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon…