One thing we have not spent a great deal of time on in this blog is the question of jurisdiction. In other words, what determines where criminal charges are brought? While, like most things in the justice system, there are exceptions, the general rule is where the crime allegedly took…
A little cold today given that we continue to go from Spring to Winter within hours? The snowfall making you chilly? Want to warm up? Well, here is way not to do that. It seems that our criminal justice heroes, in the face of gangs, heroin deaths and traffic fatalities,…
16-year-old Philip Chism (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is having all sorts of trouble in Salem Superior Court, according to the Boston.com As if being charged with rape and murder were not enough, the judge overseeing his trial has found that he is competent to stand trial. He apparently tried to find…
We usually encourage teachers who take a personal interest in students. Not always, though. Sometimes, we figure it is going too far. This case involves such allegations. 28-year-old Elizabeth Backler (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was a North Shore educator and swim coach at north Andover High School. While she is no…
Michael Pupura (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is 36-years-old and from Westwood. He is also learning an important lesson in criminal justice reality. If the allegations against him are true, he is learning that the system does not forgive violent criminal acts just because the accused is polite or tried to mitigate…
Defense lawyers for the 19 year old Tunbridge, Vermont teen accused of raping a fellow classmate in 2014 have asked for a judge to dismiss the felony charge against the teen that would force him onto the sex offender registry for the rest of his life. Owen Labrie was acquitted…
Hello there! Remember me? Some call me “The Bull”, but here in the Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog, I am just plain ol’Attorney Sam. I want to thank my associate, Ian Keefe and the good folks at Altman & Altman, LLP, for helping me in this blog when I am unable…
A recent increase in sexual assaults near Harvard Square has prompted police officials to issue a warning to advise women who work and live in the area to be on alert. The most recent in this string of assaults took place on Tuesday night at approximately 8:30 PM. A woman…
The jury selection process has begun for the trial of a 19 year old Vermont man who has been accused of raping a 15 year old girl as part of an alleged tradition at the man’s former prep school. Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont is facing several charges in relation…
…And yet again we have a story in which a Massachusetts teacher is implicated in a sex crime. This time, it is not Possession of Child Pornography, but the actual sexual assault of a child. MyFoxBoston tells us that a teacher, or now former such thing, at Norfolk County Agricultural…