Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog

November 4, 2019

Possession of Cocaine Case DIVERTED OUT in Lawrence District Court. NO Criminal Record Created

On January 18, 2019 at about 6:30 pm JN, a 32 year old HVAC Technician from Londonderry, NH came down to Lawrence with a friend to buy cocaine. Little did they know that they were being watched by the North Shore Gang Unit doing surveillance in Lawrence. After watching JN and his friend make a hand to hand purchase of drugs, the police pulled JN’s vehicle over. The two men were ordered out of JN’s vehicle and a pat down of JN yielded plastic twists of cocaine in JN’s pocket.

JN and his friend got lucky. The police did not arrest them, but rather told them that they would receive a notice to go to court. Six months later (!) in July 2019 JN received a Notice of Magistrate’s Hearing. The police had filed an application for a criminal complaint for Possession of Class B against JN. The case had a hearing date of August 1, 2019.

JN met with and then hired Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. JN and Attorney Lewin thoroughly discussed the case. There were many issues not the least of which was the legality of the stop of JN’s vehicle and the search of JN by the police.

November 2, 2019

Felony Assault with Dangerous Weapon dismissed at Clerk-Magistrate Hearing

by Robert D. Lewin

JJ, a 69 year old disabled Methuen resident, hates his next door neighbor. The neighbor parks his truck right at the property line between the two mens’ properties and this drives JJ nuts. On August 9, 2019 the neighbor was standing by his truck. JJ grabbed his cane (!) and hobbled outside of his house, down the walkway, to his fence. According to a Methuen Police Report JJ then started to approach his neighbor and yelled at the neighbor “You’re a fat fu–ing piece of sh–.” The police report then states that JJ continued to approach his neighbor and began swinging his cane and yelled “I want to smash your head in.” The neighbor called 911 and the police responded. The police spoke to JJ who denied swinging the cane. The police did not arrest JJ but filed an application for a criminal complaint for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon against JJ at Lawrence District Court.

JJ called Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. As it turns out Attorney Lewin had represented JJ in 2012 for a similar incident with the neighbor where the neighbor had applied for an abuse prevention order against JJ. At a full hearing in front of a Judge in Lawrence District Court that Abuse Prevention Order was denied. Attorney Lewin had also represented JJ in 2018 at a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing where the police had filed an application for a criminal complaint against JJ for threatening to kill the neighbor. Attorney Lewin was successful in getting that case dismissed. Attorney Lewin warned JJ that he had to get his temper under control and ignore the neighbor.

In any event on October 10, 2019 the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing was held at Lawrence District Court and after a full hearing at which the neighbor was present the Clerk-Magistrate denied the application for a criminal complaint against JJ.

October 4, 2019

OUI DRUGS & RECKLESS OPERATION CHARGES DISMISSED AT CLERK-MAGISTRATE HEARING

by Robert D. Lewin

On August 31, 2019, UN, a 21 year old college student was driving his car in Beverly, MA when he veered off the road and struck a tree head on. The police responded to the scene (along with a group of neighbors). UN was behind the wheel and appeared to be drifting in and out of consciousness. His pupils were extremely dilated. In the car the police found an open container of beer along with what appeared to be a “drug pipe” (as described in the police report). Two doses of Narcan were administered to UN and he responded. He was brought to Beverly Hospital. The police cited UN for OUI Drugs and Reckless Operation. In addition, the Police also served UN with a Notice of Immediate Threat. A notice of Immediate Threat is a notice that the police send to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to request the RMV to suspend a person’s license because the person (for either a medical reason or some other reason) poses a threat to the public if they operate a motor vehicle.

UN insisted that he had not consumed any drugs or any alcohol. UN (and his family) sought out a lawyer. UN and his Mother had an initial free consultation with Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. The consult ran over two hours. UN and his family hired Attorney Lewin.

Attorney Lewin told UN that the Hospital Report would be critical to defending this case – and it was. Attorney Lewin directed UN to go to the hospital and obtain a copy of the complete hospital report – including most importantly all the blood test results and all the urine test results. Sure enough, the test results showed NO alcohol and NO controlled substances -in particular NO opiates. The case became a slam dunk at that point.

September 4, 2019

JUVENILE CHARGES DIVERTED OUT OF THE JUVENILE COURT

by Robert D. Lewin

ED, age 17 from a bedroom community north of Boston, graduated with honors from High School in May 2019 and was due to go off to college in August. On Monday, May 27, 2019, he was with some friends. They all decided to get some weed and get high. One of the boys got weed and they all proceeded to smoke. ED’s last good memory was smoking the weed. His next good memory was waking up in an ambulance being brought to the hospital.

According to a police report the police responded to an accident scene as the result of several 911 calls. Upon arrival at the scene and speaking with witnesses it was determined that ED had run out into the street directly in the path of an oncoming car and was struck by the car. The driver of the car – herself in shock at what had happened – remained at the scene. According to police reports ED, after the collision, entered a motor vehicle and barricaded himself in the vehicle. The police ordered ED out of the car but he refused. After some tugging and pulling ED was removed from the car and forced to the ground. He resisted the police and scratched at the police and actually bit one of the police. Back up offices arrived at the scene and ED was subsequently cuffed and placed into an ambulance. According to one police officer’s report ED was in an “excited delirium state”; his heart was racing, he was sweating profusely, and when he spoke he made no sense.

The police charged ED with two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, one count of malicious destruction to property, disorderly conduct, and interfering with a police officer.

September 4, 2019

ASSAULT & BATTERY ON GIRLFRIEND CHARGE DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

KC is a 39 year old director of IT for a high tech company. He is married with two young children. For about two years KC was having an affair with a 26 year old teacher at the day care center where his children go every day. On Saturday, April 6, 2019 KC told his wife he was going out to a birthday party for a fellow employee. That part was true; what he didn’t tell his wife is that he was meeting his girlfriend after the party. At about 10:00 pm that night KC left the birthday party and went to a local bar in Danvers where he met up with his girlfriend. She had been drinking and she continued to drink. Sometime shortly after midnight KC and the girlfriend left the bar and got into KC’s car. They began to argue and she told him “You are never going to leave your wife.” At that point the girlfriend went crazy and began to punch and hit and scratch KC. KC put his arms up to block the girlfriend’s punches and in the process her nose was struck and began to bleed. She then got out of the car and walked across the street to a fire station where she told the firemen that her boyfriend had beat her up. He left and drove home. Within minutes the police were at his door and KC got arrested for a domestic assault and battery on his girlfriend. Fortunately KC had the presence of mind and the smarts to take pictures of himself and all the scratches that he had on his face and neck from his girlfriend. Unfortunately for KC, his wife was there when the police came and arrested him for assault and battery on his girlfriend. As he was being led off by the police she told him don’t bother coming back home.

KC went to Court the following Monday and was arraigned. He was ordered to have no contact with the girlfriend and to stay away from her. He went to live with a brother.

KC met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. Attorney Lewin could see right away that she had been the aggressor in this case and that he had acted only in self-defense. Then the phone calls, the texts, and the emails began. The girlfriend was trying to contact KC at least 25 to 30 times each day. As instructed by Attorney Lewin, KC saved every text, email, and voice message that she left. In her texts she threatened him if he did not get back to her. Then the girlfriend contacted KC’s wife (in person, directly) and asked her what was going on with her marriage to KC. KC’s wife told the girlfriend he’s all yours if you want him.

September 3, 2019

EMPLOYEE THEFT CHARGES DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

KS, a 27 year old male from Reading, worked as a manger for a self-storage company with locations in many areas including Malden and Salem. Part of his job was to make deposits at the bank each day of the checks and cash he took in from customers. One day he was called into the office and accused of not making the deposits on several dates from both the Salem and Malden locations. He denied the accusations; however, he could not account for what happened to the checks and cash that were taken in on his watch. The police were called in and an investigation ensued and the evidence against KS was overwhelming.

KS had some emotional issues and a slight learning disability. KS’s parents got involved and contacted Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. KS and his parents met with and then retained Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin explained to KS and his parents that if there is one thing that can help make this type of case go away it is paying the money back. The amounts of money were not large ($562 from the Salem facility and $457 from the Malden facility). KS and his family asked Attorney Lewin to see if the cases could by ended without court by paying the money back.

Attorney Lewin immediately contacted the Malden Police, the Salem Police, and the employer. The employer was interested in getting their money back and agreed to tell the police that if they were paid back they would not push for KS to be prosecuted in court. Attorney Lewin spoke directly with the Malden Police Officer handling the theft in Malden and he was agreeable to not bringing charges against KS if the money were paid back. The Salem Police, however, had already filed for a criminal complaint against KS prior to Attorney Lewin entering the case. That case was in Salem District Court; however, KS had not yet been arraigned. Attorney Lewin immediately contacted the District Attorney at Salem District Court and explained the situation. On July 8, 2019 KS and Attorney Lewin appeared in Salem District Court. Attorney Lewin asked that KS not be arraigned but that the arraignment be postponed to give the District Attorney time to confirm that the employer had been paid and that the employer was not interested in prosecution. The reason Attorney Lewin did not want KS to be arraigned is that once he would have been arraigned an entry would be made on KS’s criminal record. It is the taking place of the arraignment that creates a criminal record.

September 1, 2019

SHOOTING CHARGE DISMISSED IN LAWRENCE JUVENILE COURT

by Robert D. Lewin

KC, a 14 year old juvenile, resides with his parents in Georgetown, MA. For months he has been bullied by a 17 year old youth also from Georgetown. On Wednesday, April 3, 2019 KC was walking with several friends towards KC’s house. They were about thirty yards away from KC’s house when the bully rode by in a car. As the bully passed KC, the bully yelled out “Fuck you, you fucken pussie, you won’t fight me.” The car went up the street, turned around and came back. The bully got out of the car and yelled at KC “Fuck you; I’ll beat your ass.” The bully came at KC. KC happened to be carrying CO2 cartridge Air Soft Gun. He pulled out the gun which but for the orange tip and the white tape on the barrel looks just like a real gun. The bully kept advancing and KC fired the gun at the bully.

The police arrived within minutes. The gun was confiscated from KC. KC’s mother had arrived at the scene. Because of his young age the police did not arrest KC but told his mother that KC would be summonsed to juvenile court. Subsequently KC received a summons to appear in Lawrence Juvenile Court for an arraignment on a charge of Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon. This charge is a felony and is NOT a charge that can be diverted by a Judge.

KC’s mother and father contacted and with their son met with Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. After a lengthy initial consultation which was free KC’s parents retained Attorney Lewin. It was very clear to Attorney Lewin that KC had acted in self-defense following a long period of bullying.

September 1, 2019

BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGE DISMISSED AT CLERK-MAGISTRATE HEARING

by Robert D. Lewin

In 2018 DE graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover. On June 1, 2019 he decided to return to Andover to celebrate his first reunion with classmates and friends. Of course, there was a young lady who was due to graduated on June 2, 2019 and DE and she had been in a romantic relationship. She wanted to see him badly; in fact she wanted him to stay the night with her in her dorm room. She called him and texted him imploring him to come be with her. He did not want to and told her that he was with a number of friends. She persisted and finally he agreed. Her dorm was a locked dormitory. She opened the locked outer building door and left it wedged open so that he would be able to get in. He came to the wedged open door and entered the building and went up to her room. Subsequently another dorm resident reported that there was a male in the building and the dorm director went to the girl’s room. DE was discovered hiding in the closet. The girl, fearing that she would not be allowed to graduate the next day, told the dorm director that he had been calling her insisting that she let him in; that she had told him not to come to the dorm or her room; that he came anyway and that he burst into her room; that she told him to leave and that he refused. The school notified the police and the police charged DE with Breaking and Entering a building in the nighttime with the intent to cause a misdemeanor. The case was set up for a hearing before a Clerk-Magistrate at Lawrence District Court.

DE and his family live in New York and they were told to call Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. DE and his father had an initial free consultation with Attorney Lewin on the phone that lasted about 1 1/2 hours. DE’s father immediately retained Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin had DE send to Attorney Lewin all the text messages that DE had exchanged with the girl. The text messages were terrific evidence that the girl had lied when she reported that he arrived uninvited. Not only did she explicitly insist that he stay overnight with her she asked him to “bring alcohol” (which he did not do).

On July 18, 2019 DE, his father, and Attorney Lewin appeared in Lawrence District Court for the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. These Clerk-Magistrate Hearings are important because it is an opportunity to kill a criminal case BEFORE it goes before a judge and BEFORE it goes on your criminal record. At the hearing the police prosecutor read the police report. Attorney Lewin then produced the text messages and read them message by message. When Attorney Lewin was done the Clerk-Magistrate looked at the Police Prosecutor and said “where is the crime?” The young man was invited in and he had no intent to commit a crime when he entered the building. The Clerk-Magistrate denied the police application for a criminal complaint.

August 29, 2019

OLD WARRANT CANCELLED AND CASE DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

VK is a thirty-one year old Marine stationed is California. His work in the marines requires him to have a driver’s license. In 2005 VK was arrested by the Lowell Police for several misdemeanor charges. He never went to court and for 14 years a warrant for his arrest was outstanding. As a result of the warrant the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles suspended his license. In 2019 this suspension of his license finally caught up with VK. VK contacted Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover and explained his situation. On July 14, 2019 VK retained Attorney Lewin.

Attorney Lewin immediately went over to Lowell District Court and obtained copies of all the papers in VK’s case. Attorney Lewin then prepared a Motion to Waive (Excuse) VK’s personal appearance in Court, to Cancel the warrant, and to dismiss the case. Attorney Lewin met with the Assistant District Attorney and explained that VK was a career marine and needed to get the warrant cleared so that he could remain in the marines and that he did not have the funds to return to MA. The Assistant District Attorney was persuaded by Attorney Lewin’s request and agreed.

On July 16, 2019 (less than 48 hours after being hired) Attorney Lewin went into Lowell District Court. Attorney Lewin had the case brought forward and sent in to the main courtroom. Attorney Lewin went before the Judge and presented the Motion to Waive VK’s personal appearance in Court, cancel the warrant, and dismiss the case. The Assistant District Attorney told the Judge they had no objection. The Judge granted Attorney Lewin’s motion. The warrant was ordered CANCELLED and the case was ordered DISMISSED. The Judge was so impressed with VK’s service history (Attorney Lewin had received that via email from VK and given it to the Judge) that the Judge ordered the case dismissed prior to arraignment. Because the case was dismissed prior to arraignment the case does not go on VK’s criminal record. It is as if it did not happen.

August 29, 2019

ANOTHER DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND BATTERY DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

On March 30, 2019 SS, a 30 year old landscaper from Haverhill and his live in girlfriend got into an argument. They had both been drinking and the argument got heated. They live in an apartment building. A neighbor heard the argument and then heard a banging sound and the sound of a body being banged against the wall and then dropping to the floor. The neighbor then heard SS yell “Is this what you f—ing want?”. The neighbor called 911 and the Haverhill Police responded. The girlfriend told the police that SS had slammed her to the ground causing her whole body to hurt. SS told the police that she had attacked him and he simply put his hands up and pushed her away to avoid getting hit by her.

SS had an initial consultation with and hired Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. At first SS wanted to work out a plea bargain in the case. Attorney Lewin told SS that his case was a triable case. SS then changed his mind and told Attorney Lewin that he wanted to fight the case. On April 22, 2019 the Haverhill District Court set a trial date of July 9, 2019.

Attorney Lewin met with the girlfriend. Because SS and the girlfriend were not married she did not have a “spousal privilege” which would allow her to refuse to testify. Because there was evidence that the girlfriend had attacked SS the girlfriend did have a Fifth Amendment privilege which would permit her to refuse to testify in the case. The girlfriend told Attorney Lewin that she wished to exercise her Fifth Amendment privilege.