Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I suggest, in general, that if law enforcement tries to talk to you about criminal activity to which they would like to connect you, you should politely defer questioning until you have an experienced lawyer present.

Of course, this pre-supposes that you are either a suspect or that the ensuing conversation is likely to make you one.

The right to invoke what is commonly known as Miranda Rights. It is more complicated than most people think which is why it is best to follow this suggestion. If you get a lawyer and there is nothing to fear, then your lawyer can tell you that. I have seen too many cases, though, in which it is the police who invoke their right to lie, deceive and mislead someone in order to get a statement they actually like out of a soon-to-be-revealed suspect…or defendant. To give a general admonition to simply go ahead and answer all the questions to the best of your ability without the safeguard of a lawyer would not be great advice. Particularly given what is often done with such statements.

Over the past couple days, the criminal investigation into the disappearance of Hannah Graham (the “Missing”) and the until-now-officially-“non-suspect” Jesse Leroy Mathew (now the “Defendant”) has had some developments.

Finally, it would seem that the façade that the Defendant was merely wanted for his poor driving habits and simply a “person of interest” in connection with the presumed abduction of Missing has ended. His official status has changed in places other than this blog to that of “suspect”. Criminal charges have also brought charging him with the suspected abduction.

Shortly thereafter, he was captured in Texas where he awaits extradition.

Well, Jesse Mathew, 32, (hereinafter, the “Suspect”), whom we discussed yesterday, seems to be in more trouble than we knew. Search warrants weren issued today to carry out searches of his apartment. The search warrants are part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham (hereinafter, the “Missing”).

Meanwhile, the Charlottesville Police Department is ramping up the pressure on the Suspect by releasing to the media a wanted poster for him, saying that he may be in possession of his sister’s car. They also indicate that he has known associates in Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York in addition to his home state of Virginia.

Incidentally, I also know people in Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. Worse yet, I also know folks in New Jersey, Florida, Georgia and Ohio. As well as a bunch of other places. I suppose if I am ever wanted by Virginia for a misdemeanor motor vehicle crime, the poster would run out of space to list all the potential innuendo against me.

Another story involving potential college campus crimes is in the news today. It involves what all parents fear…the disappearance of a child.

Hannah Graham, 18, a sophomore at University of Virginia, has been missing since September 13th. To make matters worse, at least three other young women have disappeared in the area in the last five years. While the police indicate that they do not believe that Ms. Graham’s disappearance is connected to the others, one cannot say for sure. After all, the disappearance of Ms. Graham remains a mystery.

The local police do have a “person of interest” with whom they would like to speak though. He is believed to be the last person to have seen Ms. Graham before she disappeared. While the police certainly want to question him, Jesse Mathew now faces charges for reckless driving.

Well, I don’t know how you are starting your week, but I started mine arguing with my alarm claiming that “It is not bright enough outside to be morning!” I lost that argument as shorter days get ready to become the norm.

I would guess, however, that as reluctant as I was to throw back the blanket and face the day, Worcester’s 36-year-old Victor Baez. Jr.(hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was even morehesitant. Like me, he would start his day in court; unlike me, he was probably not returning home tonight.

The Defendant, a Level Three sex offender, is set to be arraigned on charges of kidnapping, receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment of a child, and driving with a suspended license. Clearly, this was not his first visit to the halls of justice. He was previously convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age in 2004.

Well, I suppose you have to give it to Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan and his office. They apparently “never say die” and may actually believe in the third time is the charm theory.

Cara Rintala (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was charged for the murder of her wife back in March, 2010. The case went to trial. The jury could not reach a unanimous decision of either “guilty” or “not guilty”. So, the Commonwealth took the case to trial again. They got the same result. A hung jury.

Finally, the Defendant brought a motion to dismiss the case rather than sit through another jury trial.

As mentioned in the beginning of this week, this blog is about to undergo some positive changes. We have discussed many things over the years that I have posted this blog. The tone has ranged from angry, to sad to somewhat humorous. In criminal justice issues, of course, those involved often find very little humor. However, for those of us who deal with it every single day, and care, laughter is necessary for survival.

We have talked about criminal, as well as quasi-criminal allegations. For a while, we heatedly debated The topic of bullying and the “heroic” statute that was rushed through the legislature to combat it.

Notice how dealing with that issue has basically vanished from sight.

Welcome to 2014. A new IPhone is supposed to come out and the technological landscape seems endless. With endless horizons, however, come unknown dangers. Adults may not yet completely understand this technology. Our kids do, though.

They understand it just enough to get themselves into trouble.

“Innocent girl on Instagram flipping the bird.

First of all, welcome to the new Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog. As time moves forward you will see a return to daily posting as well as other changes hopefully later this week. Consider it Attorney Sam’s Take Volume II

In the meantime, we turn to the skies.

We have discussed many times the vague and over-extending of the Massachusetts misdemeanor known as “disorderly conduct”. Basically, if you’re conduct is considered offensive to a police officer, you can be charged. Generally, it is not the heaviest crime in the world…just enough to go on your record, cost you thousands of dollars and greatly effect your future for the negative. That, of course, is regardless of how the case comes out.

Do you think you have been having a bad week?

Well, you are invited to compare yours to that of 43-year-old Jose Luis Tejada (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) of Lawrence. As the third anniversary of his shooting his girlfriend and two kids (Labor Day, 2011) approaches, his Salem murder trial has ended. After deliberating five hours, the jury found him guilty. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences.

Judge Howard Whitehead presided over the trial in Salem Superior Court and, at the sentencing hearing, called the killings “barbaric and evil”. Three family members of the deceased mother and teens also gave emotional impact statements to the court.

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