Today is Thanksgiving. While the daily criminal law blog goes on, this is not a day o concentrate on the problems of criminal justice. Instead, let’s gain some brief optimistic perspective. From whence have we come? Some of the particular crimes and punishments make today’s laws look pretty liberal. Since…
As we near Thanksgiving, we look around for reasons to be thankful. True, economic times are tough and getting tougher. However, it would appear that all the violent crimes and drug dealing in Lynn, Massachusetts, has been stopped. No more guns rape, robbery or murder. It would appear that even…
Angel R., 43, a former Springfield firefighter (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) has been having a bad time of it lately. In July, he was arrested in connection with a fight with another gentleman. Well, it allegedly involved alittle more than a simple fight; his fellow combatant, hereinafter referred to as “slashed”,…
When I was a kid, we had a thing called “show and tell” in which you could bring in something you thought was “cool” to show the class and maybe play with when the teacher was not looking. It was fun. For some reason, it never occurred to me to…
Prosecutors on Friday filed a motion to dismiss one of the 1st degree murder charges against the 8-year-old boy who is accused of shooting his father and another victim. The boy’s father, Vincent Romero, and Tim Romans, Romero’s roommate, died from injuries they sustained in the shooting. According to police,…
Sean G., 20, of Roslindale (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was out for a drive early Wednesday morning. Normally, that might not pose so much of a problem. However, this time was different. You see, according to the police, the Defendant was drunk. Upon further investigation, he was apparently not even supposed…
Felony gun charges against Drew Peterson were dropped today when prosecutors refused to turn over internal files pertaining to their decision to arrest the former police sergeant. Peterson was arrested last May and charged with owning an assault rifle with a barrel shorter than what the state law allows. Police…
You know, some people just belong in jail. And some people are in jail…working for the jail. Well, at least they were…! Take Gary M., 48, of Berkley, a lieutenant with the Department of Correction in Boston (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) for example. He changed seats in the criminal justice arena…
Where do people learn such animosity? Today’s daily blog involves two stories that have to do with dysfunctional family situations. We start with a story from Brockton, Massachusetts, where a 15-year old juvenile (hereinafter, “Juvenile Defendant”) now faces charges for an apparent “teddybearicide”. Now a guest of the Commonwealth, at…
In Boston, a federal grand jury indicted Massachusetts State Senator Dianne Wilkerson on eight counts of attempted extortion connected to her acceptance of over $20,000 in cash between June 2007 and October 2008. A federal indictment charged Wilkerson with eight counts of attempted extortion under color of official right. According…