Many people assume that law enforcement has some kind of duty to notify a suspect before they seek criminal charges against them. This is not true. In fact, to the contrary, the police often try to catch a suspect by surprise when arresting him or her so that the suspect…
Kevin Burnham, a “decorated and highly-respected” Springfield police officer who retired in 2014 (and hereinafter, the “Defendant”) has been indicted with stealing approximately $385,317 which had been evidence in 170 drug cases. He has pleaded “not guilty” and released on his own recognizance. The Defendant must turn in his passport,…
Michael P. McCarthy, 35 and hereinafter, the “Defendant” went to court today. He is the gent who stands accused of actually killing the toddler known for months as “Baby Doe”. The court was Suffolk Superior Court in Boston. The charge is Murder in the First Degree. This was not the…
I have been around as a Boston criminal defense attorney for an uncountable number of years. Laws and procedures that make little to no sense is nothing new in the trenches. One such sentencing-related law was changed this past week. On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives unanimously voted to…
If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) you are automatically subjected to stricter rules and regulations. You may also face harsher penalties for traffic violations and other offenses. If you are convicted of a ‘major violation’, whether you are driving your personal vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle (CMV),…
Hello and happy new year! I wish I could be starting the year off with a happy story…but this is, after all, a criminal law blog. Springfield authorities have announced their recent bust which took place on Saturday night. According to the Boston Herald . the police say that the…
As I think I mentioned in my last blog, the holidays can be a stressful time. A gent from Charlton, a pickup truck driver who we will simply call “Defendant”, is using that as a defense in an upcoming criminal matter. It is not really much of a defense, but…
The holidays can be a stressful time. There are certain do’s and don’ts that we have many times discussed as to ways in which one can release the pressure. For example, going to a therapist or a close friend to discuss the emotional turmoil you are facing is a good…
…And so our list continues. Law enforcement has appeared at your door, interested in coming in to either look around, have a chat or both. Now what? I had just finished the second of five points for you to keep in mind when we left off. Suggestion 3. Thou Shalt…
In my last blog, we discussed the scene where law enforcement is banging on your door and asking to come in. Let’s assume that they have come for something other than simply a social visit or to congratulate you on being such a great citizen. Let’s also assume that, all…