Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog

So far this week, The Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog has dealt with the hot button criminal offenses that fall under the category of “sexual crimes”. They have ranged from child pornography to actual Massachusetts sexual assault and battery. Although not necessarily a specific crime that is outlawed by a particular statute, the reality is that the crime of “Evil thoughts” has also been involved. I refer, of course, to the “gentleman” who’s defense is that he merely fantasized about kidnapping, killing and eating little children. The prosecution, you recall, argued that that fantasy was not only in the planning stage of coming true, but that he was guilty of crimes that were almost beyond description they were so bad.

You will also recall, of course, they were very easily described. It’s called “possession and dissemination of child pornography”. There was no evidence that he ever touched or molested any child.

We discussed a more typical sex crimes case in which the defendant is accused of actually molesting a nine-year-old child. No evidence of deadly fantasies but evidence of actual sexual assault.

Yesterday, we were discussing the story of a convicted gentleman who, while charged with the possession and dissemination of child pornography, was really suspected to be about to do far worse.

While admittedly not kidnapping, killing and eating anybody, East Boston’s 39-year-old Jose Avila (hereinafter, the “Defendant”)has been charged with committing a Massachusetts indecent assault and battery already.

I think it is worth comparing the two cases.

You won’t be seeing 40-year-old Geoffrey Portway of Worcester (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) around for awhile. A 27 years while.

The Defendant pleaded guilty in May to distribution and possession of child pornography as well as solicitation to commit a crime of violence. Pending his sentencing, federal prosecutors wrote in their sentencing recommendation that he “has pled guilty to some of the most vile and heinous crimes known to our society,”

Last Tuesday, he was sentenced to just under the 27-year, three-month sentence sought by prosecutors.

As last week ended, 30-year-old Stephen Ardredy (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) from Missouri was the one facing confinement and the Medfield 17-year-old young woman (hereinafter, the “Girl”) was free, safe and sound.

Such was the aftermath after the 2 1/2 –day disappearance of the Girl, including what must have seemed like endless torture for her family and other loved ones.

The Girl had disappeared after leaving the Medfield Public Library last Monday afternoon and wasn’t found until Thursday morning when she and the Defendant were spotted in Coventry, Rhode Island. According to a law enforcement official, speaking only on condition of anonymity (“because of the sensitivity of the investigation”), the Defendant was seen on a videotape leaving the library with the Girl.

Yesterday, we began discussing the case of Somerville High School student Galileo Mondol (hereinafter, the “Defendant”). He, along with two juvenile co-defendants, is facing charges in Pittsfield for an alleged attack upon a freshman during a team-building camp. The charges are serious and are likely to be indicted. They include, but are not limited, to rape, intimidation of a witness and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

As the blog was posted, the smoke was clearing after a Dangerousness Hearing took place for the Defendant. As you may recall, such a hearing is conducted at the request of the Commonwealth, who believes the particular defendant is a threat to society and so must be held without any right to bail. Usually, when the Commonwealth makes such a suggestion, courts oblige and the defendant can look forward to being held without bail for (at least) the next few months.

Not this time, though.