On September 14, an 18-year-old college student from Roswell, Georgia was killed during a hazing incident at Louisiana State University. Maxwell Gruver died of complications related to acute alcohol intoxication while trying to join Phi Delta Theta. Students hoping to be accepted into a particular fraternity or sorority are called…
Articles Posted in Criminal Law
Can I Appeal a Criminal Conviction?
A criminal conviction in Massachusetts doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a case. If you feel that you’ve been wrongfully convicted of a crime, you may have a few more options. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your wrongful conviction, you may be able to move for a new trial with…
Upcoming Supreme Court Decisions on Several Big Ticket Criminal Law Items
The fall of 2017 will be a time of major decision making for the U.S. Supreme Court and its new Justice Neil Gorsuch. The Court will be deciding on a number of cases, but its focus on the following cases and criminal law issues is of particular interest to attorneys…
MA Gun Laws in the Wake of Las Vegas Shooting
On Sunday, a Nevada man opened fire at a Las Vegas concert, killing 58 and wounding more than 500. Stephen Paddock used automatic weapons to shoot concertgoers from his room at the Mandalay Bay hotel. Following the massacre, police discovered .223 caliber and .308 caliber assault rifles, and other firearms…
Charged with Child Endangerment in MA?
If you are caring for a child – whether your own or someone else’s – you have a legal responsibility to keep that child away from unreasonably harmful or dangerous situations. If you put a child in an unhealthy, inappropriate, or dangerous situation, or you don’t intervene to help remove…
The Punishment for the Crime of Arson in Massachusetts
In the past, arson referred to the crime of burning someone else’s home or property while the structure was occupied. It was intended to protect the lives of anyone who happened to be inside the burning structure. However, the modern definition of arson is quite different. Today, the property being…
Charged with Stalking in MA? – Here’s What you Need to Know.
Stalking and harassment crimes generally involve two people who know each other, often intimately. For this reason, when a person is facing charges for stalking or criminal harassment, he may have been unaware that his behavior had crossed into criminal territory. If you feel jealous or betrayed, you may act…
Burglar Gets 327 Years for Home Invasions and Robberies Targeting Senior Citizens
A San Francisco burglar just received a 327-year sentence for wreaking havoc on the city’s elderly residents. In 2014, German Woods began his criminal spree of home invasions and robberies. The 60-year-old burglar targeted vulnerable senior citizens who lived alone. He would hide in the shadows, attacking as they entered…
Charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident in MA?
Commonly referred to as “hit and run,” leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in MA. As with most crimes, the penalties depend largely on the particulars of the case, the severity of the accident, and prior criminal history. Consider the following scenarios: Sue runs into her…
The Harm of Having a Criminal Record in Massachusetts
Having a criminal record can make life extremely difficult. Getting the job or house you want with a felony, or even a misdemeanor, can be impossible. When a person is facing criminal charges, he or she may plead guilty to a lesser charge simply to get the uncomfortable process over…