In 2014, then-17-year-old Michelle Carter allegedly encouraged her 18-year-old boyfriend Conrad Roy IIII to commit suicide. She did it through text. Earlier this week, Carter’s manslaughter trial commenced, with prosecutors arguing that the now-20-year-old Plainville woman’s texts urged Roy to take his own life. Both Carter and Roy had a…
In most cases, if a landlord’s negligence leads to an unsafe condition on their property, the landlord generally won’t be held criminally liable for resulting injuries or death. However, an exception may occur if the landlord’s actions were especially egregious. Last December, a fire killed 36 people at the Ghost…
Many states, including Massachusetts, have specialized drug courts, which aim to provide addiction treatment rather than criminal penalties for drug offenders. However, last month, New York took its drug court system one step further by instituting a highly-specialized opiate court to address the nation’s growing problem with opioid addiction. Opioid…
Tiger Woods was recently arrested on drugged driving charges after police found him asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes. When police woke him up, the golf superstar was stopped in the right lane with his car running. Woods failed several field sobriety tests, but a breath test registered no…
Also known as “hit and run,” leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident is a criminal offense. A hit and run doesn’t have to involve injuries, but penalties are likely to be much more severe if someone is injured. Although it’s never a good idea to leave the scene…
MA is tough on OUI. But if this is your first offense, there are multiple defenses and alternative sentencing options that may be available to you. A first offense conviction of OUI in MA can carry a penalty of up to two-and-a-half years in jail, a one-year license suspension, and…
During an investigation into a criminal or civil matter, witnesses may be subpoenaed to court to supply evidence, such as documents and DNA, and to testify against defendants and report crimes. In some cases, obtaining witness testimonies and evidence is easy. In other cases, witnesses are reluctant to comply. If…
As of 2014, residents of Massachusetts are prohibited from owning firearms if they’ve been convicted of any type of domestic violence crime. That being said, no law is currently in place requiring courts to notify those affected by this legislation. If you have been found with a firearm following a…
Willie Wilkerson is a pastor at the Mission Church on Quincy Street in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. Earlier this month, he was arrested on drug trafficking and intent to distribute charges following an investigation of the church, a food trailer, he owns and his home. In addition to crack cocaine and…
The term obstruction of justice encompasses myriad criminal charges that may be filed when a person impedes or “obstructs” the criminal investigation process. What exactly does that mean? The following case provides one example. In 2014, Khairullozhon Matanov was questioned by police after the Boston Marathon bombing. Although he was…