On July 9, 2014 NK and a friend drove from Manchester, NH down to Methuen to buy heroin. At a prearranged spot the friend exited NK’s car and met a woman and began walking down the street with the woman. The friend gave the woman $200 and the woman gave NK’s friend several packets of heroin. The friend returned to NK’s car and got in. NK began to drive away and within moments several unmarked police vehicles with flashing blue lights forced NK to a stop. The police ordered NK and his friend out of the car. Heroin packets were found in the front seat and loose heroin was found on the driver’s seat and on the floor in front of the driver’s seat. The police arrested NK and his friend and charged them both with Possession of Class A (Heroin). The woman, who had been under police surveillance, was also arrested and charged with Distribution of Heroin. The next day, July 10, 2014, NK appeared in Lawrence District Court and was arraigned; his case was continued to September 5, 2014 for a pre-trial hearing.
NK – it turns out – was on probation in NH for 3 burglaries and has a 2-4 year state prison sentence hanging over his head.This arrest could cause his probation to be revoked and the 2-4 year sentence to be put into effect. NK put himself into a 28 day in-patient drug treatment program. He completed that program and then transferred into a 3-6 month residential treatment program.
On September 2, 2014 (just three days before his court hearing) NK retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover to handle the drug case in Lawrence District Court. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained the treatment records from the two drug programs. The records were excellent and showed that NK was making genuine efforts to overcome his addiction. On September 4, 2014 Attorney Lewin went over to Lawrence District Court and met with the Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case. Attorney Lewin gave her copies of the treatment records and explained how well NK was doing. Attorney Lewin asked the Assistant DA to dismiss the case. The Assistant DA agreed.
On September 5, 2014 NK and his family and Attorney Lewin appeared in Lawrence District Court. At Attorney Lewin’s request the Judge DISMISSED the case. NK and his family were thrilled with the result and could hardly believed that Attorney Lewin had achieved a dismissal of the case only three days after being hired. As a result of the case being dismissed it is very unlikely that NK’s probation in NH will be revoked.