Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog

April 3, 2021

WARRANT CLEARED – ALL CHARGES DISMISSED

In July of 2019, SM, a 23 year old woman was pulled over by the Wakefield Police. The police had done a random scan/query of the registration plate on her car and it came back as revoked due to insurance cancellation. When the police asked for her license it turns out that her right to operate in Massachusetts had been suspended due to an unpaid speeding ticket. She was charged with operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating a vehicle with a revoked registration, and operating after suspension of her right to drive. The Malden Court issued a summons for her to come to court but she claimed never to have received it. A warrant for her arrest was issued by the court.

She stopped driving after that and the car sat in her driveway. In 2021 she contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover wishing to clear things up. Attorney Lewin immediately filed his appearance as her lawyer and that gave him access to all the court papers and the police reports which he immediately obtained. Attorney Lewin explained to SM that if she got the car registered and insured and if she got her right to drive reinstated that that would go a long way toward getting the charges resolved very favorably. SM was a good client. She paid off the old speeding ticket and paid a reinstatement fee for her right to operate and her right to operate was reinstated by the Registry. She also got a new insurance policy and got the car reregistered. Attorney Lewin filed a Motion with the Court to cancel the warrant and dismiss the charges.

On April 1, 2021 Attorney Lewin and SM appeared virtually via zoom in Malden Court (which is in Medford!). Attorney Lewin had filed all the papers from the Registry with the Judge and with the DA to show that SM had taken care of all her issues. The Judge then said that she was ordering the warrant cancelled all the charges against SM dismissed prior to arraignment.

March 28, 2021

UNLICENSED OPERATION CHARGE DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

October 3, 2020 was a terrible day for TK, a 26 year old gentleman from Richmond, VA. He was driving from VA to Boston. While driving in CT he was involved in an accident. His car got towed from the scene and he was cited by the police in CT for several motor vehicle violations. He was able to get his vehicle out of the tow yard. The vehicle was drivable so he continued on his way to Boston. He got on Route 84East and was going 105 miles per hour. A state trooper ultimately pulled him over. It turns out his VA license had been suspended. The police gave TK a criminal citation for Unlicensed Operation, No License in Possession, and Speeding. TK subsequently received a summons to appear for an arraignment in Dudley District Court. TK (with the help of his parents) sought out a lawyer (online) who could help. They found Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover.

After consulting with Attorney Lewin on the phone TK retained Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin immediately filed his appearance in Dudley District Court for TK and obtained a copy of the police report. Attorney Lewin reached out to the Assistant District Attorney in Dudley District Court and had a lengthy conversation with the Assistant District Attorney about the case. Attorney Lewin explained to the Assistant DA that TK had been successful in getting his license reinstated in VA and Attorney Lewin furnished a copy of TK’s new license to the Assistant DA.

On March 26, 2021 TK and Attorney Lewin appeared virtually via zoom in Dudley District Court for TK’s arraignment. The Assistant DA told the Judge that the Commonwealth was moving to Dismiss the criminal charge of unlicensed operation and that the Commonwealth was agreeable to findings of NOT responsible on the No license in possession charge and the speeding charge! (105 mph!!). The Judge agreed and ALL the charges were dropped.

March 28, 2021

ANOTHER HIT & RUN CASE DISMISSED AT CLERK-MAGISTRATE HEARING

by Robert D. Lewin

On November 24, 2020, LQ, an 81 year old gentleman from Methuen was pulling out of a bank drive-thru in Haverhill. As he turned onto the street he sideswiped a car that was parked on the street. According to LQ, he pulled over, got out of his car, did not see any damage, got back in his car and drove away. A husband and wife were behind LQ and saw the entire episode and took a picture of his car showing the license plate. The husband and wife called the police. The police responded to the scene and took a statement from the husband and wife in which they said that LQ had not stopped. The police obtained a copy of the photo showing the license plate of LQ’s car, ran the plate, and were able to locate LQ through the Registry of Motor Vehicles computer. The police called LQ on the phone and took a statement from LQ. According to the police report LQ seemed confused about the accident. The police issued LQ a citation for leaving the scene of a property damage accident. In addition the police issued an “immediate threat” notice to the Registry. An immediate threat notice is a notice by the police to the Registry that a driver may pose an immediate threat to the safety of the public if allowed to continue to drive. When the Registry receives the notice from the police the Registry sends out a Notice of Suspension to the driver. That happened to LQ.

LQ took the citation and requested a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. Several days before the hearing LQ’s daughter contacted Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin explained in detail what the Clerk-Magistrate hearing would entail and he also explained the ramifications of the Immediate Threat notice. Attorney Lewin explained that before the Registry would consider restoring the license to LQ the criminal charge would have to be resolved in Court. LQ retained Attorney Lewin.

Attorney Lewin immediately contacted the Haverhill District Court and obtained a copy of the police report. In addition Attorney Lewin contacted LQ’s Auto Insurance and got written confirmation that LQ had plenty of property damage insurance coverage ($100,000.00) and Attorney Lewin also confirmed that the lady who’s car was struck had not filed a claim for property damage. Attorney Lewin filed those documents with the Court Clerk. On Friday, March 26, 2021 Attorney Lewin and LQ appeared virtually via zoom at Haverhill District Court for the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. After all the evidence was presented Attorney Lewin requested that the Clerk-Magistrate not issue a criminal complaint against LQ. The Clerk-Magistrate adopted Attorney Lewin’s request and denied the police application for a criminal complaint.

February 17, 2021

11 YEAR OLD WARRANT CANCELLED – CASE DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

In 2010, SL, a 19 year old exotic dancer was living with another dancer in Fitchburg. They had a falling out and SL moved out and moved down to Florida. Unbeknownst to SL, her former roommate in Fitchburg accused SL of stealing money and a cell phone from the apartment they had shared. The roommate went to the police and the police took out a criminal complaint against SL for Larceny Over $250 (a felony). Because SL was of parts unknown a warrant was issued for her arrest by Fitchburg District Court. Years passed and SL moved to upper New York State. SL went to apply for a driver’s license but was turned down by the NY DMV because her right to drive in Massachusetts was under suspension because of the warrant in Fitchburg District Court. That is when SL first learned of the case in Fitchburg District Court.

SL contacted Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. After a thorough initial free consultation SL, now age 29, hired Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin explained to SL that with a little luck they might be able to get the case favorably resolved without SL having to come to Massachusetts. On February 4, 2021 SL retained Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin immediately contacted the Fitchburg District Court and was able to obtain all the court papers and the police report. Attorney Lewin emailed copies to SL and they reviewed them together. SL told Attorney Lewin that she was innocent of the charge and after reading the police report it was clear to Attorney Lewin that the State could not prove the case against SL. Attorney Lewin immediately contacted the DA’s Office and within five days the DA’s Office agreed to dismiss the case without SL having to come to Massachusetts and the court.

On February 17, 2021 Attorney Lewin and SL appeared via Zoom in Fitchburg District Court. Attorney Lewin had prepared and filed a Motion to Cancel the Warrant, Allow the parties to appear via zoom, and Dismiss the case prior to arraignment. After a brief hearing the Judge Ordered the warrant cancelled and the case dismissed prior to arraignment.

January 12, 2021

11 YEAR OLD WARRANT CANCELLED – CASE DISMISSED

by Robert D. Lewin

In 2009 DH, a then 29 year old homeless man, was arrested in Peabody and charged with Trespassing and Disorderly Conduct. DH had a six page criminal record. He defaulted in Court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He went to California and lived in CA for a number of years. DH got his life together and then returned to MA. He got married, got a good job, and went back to school. But he could not drive because he could not get a license due to the warrants in Peabody District Court. DH contacted Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover and they had an initial conference via FaceTime. DH retained Attorney Lewin.

Attorney Lewin immediately obtained all the court papers and the police report from the 2009 case. Attorney Lewin then reached out to the District Attorney’s Office and discussed the case at length with the DA. Attorney Lewin asked the DA to dismiss the case.

On January 12, 2021 Attorney Lewin and DH appeared in Peabody District Court. DH appeared in person and Attorney Lewin appeared via zoom. The case was called and Attorney Lewin and the Assistant District Attorney made a joint request of the Judge to cancel the warrant and dismiss the case. The Judge agreed. DH left the Court with no warrant hanging over his head and his 11 year old case dismissed. He was a happy client!

December 17, 2020

ANOTHER HIT & RUN CASE WON

by Robert D. Lewin

On July 1, 2020 a homeowner in Byfield, MA heard a loud crash outside her home. She went outside and observed an SVU pulling away from a utility pole. The pole was badly damaged. The SUV left the scene. She called the police and they found a number of parts from the SUV at the scene. Over the next few weeks the police did an investigation and they identified the parts as coming from a particular year and make of vehicle. A search of the RMV data base showed such a vehicle registered to JW who lived not far from the accident scene. It took several weeks and when they got to JW’s house they found the SUV – with no damage at all on it. A search of auto repair shops showed that the SUV had been brought in to a particular shop and had had repairs made to it – repairs that were consistent with the accident. A check with JW’s insurance company showed that they had paid for the damages to the SUV. The police went to speak with JW but he said nothing o them – absolutely nothing. He exercised his right to remain silent and would not answer one question. (Smart guy.) The police cited JW with Leaving the Scene and Failing to File a Police Report of an Accident and issued him a citation. JW called Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin advised JW to immediately file the citation at Newburyport District Court and request a Clerk-Magistrate hearing.

JW retained Attorney Robert Lewin. (As it turns out JW had had Attorney Lewin represent him previously in another hit & run case which Attorney Lewin won.) Attorney Lewin immediately identified two problems with the police case against JW.

First: The leaving the scene charge requires the police to prove that JW was driving the car at the time of the accident. From the evidence the police had, the police could establish probable cause that it was JW’s vehicle that was involved in the accident. But that is not enough. They had to prove that JW was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. There was no evidence of this.

December 15, 2020

HARASSMENT PROTECTION ORDER DENIED

by Robert D. Lewin

TP is a 34 year old sales manager working for an international company based in Massachusetts. He resides in Canada. In 2016 he was at the company headquarters in Massachusetts and went up to Salem on Halloween night. He met a married woman (NR) and they began a dating relationship. He would visit her when he was in MA and she made several trips to Canada to visit him. Well as luck would have it NR got pregnant and in August 2018 a baby daughter was born. DNA tests established that TP was the father. Their dating relationship continued and he developed a relationship with their daughter. He came to MA often and always spent most of the time here with his daughter. He had FaceTime visits with her almost daily. For Halloween 2020 TP came down to MA and spent ten days here. Most of that time was spent with his daughter – who is now 2+ years old. At the end of his ten day visit TP returned to Canada. When he got back NR told him that she was cutting off all of his contact with their daughter and that NR did not want him contacting her (NR). NR also said that she would not facilitate FaceTime visits with their daughter any longer.

TP was then served with a Notice from Lynn District Court that NR had applied for a restraining order against him and that a hearing was scheduled for Monday, December 14, 2020 via ZOOM. TP had commenced proceedings in the Probate Court to establish paternity and get visitation, but his Probate Court lawyer told TP that she did not handle restraining order cases in the District Court. TP contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover to represent him in Lynn District Court to defend against the Harassment Protection Order. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained copies of the Complaint for Protection and the Affidavit that NR had filed at Court. TP sent to Attorney Lewin all the text messages between TP and NR as well as some text messages that NR had sent to TP’s sister. These text messages were important because they clearly showed that NR had made absolutely no complaints to TP (or his sister) that TP was harassing NR. Attorney Lewin electronically filed all the text messages with the Court so that they could be used during the hearing before the Judge. Attorney Lewin also electronically served copies of the text messages on NR.

The Court hearing was scheduled for Monday, December 14, 2020. On Friday, December 11 and again on Sunday, December 13 Attorney Lewin and TP spent about 1 1/2 hours (each day) preparing for the Court hearing. TP was fully prepared to testify at the hearing and Attorney Lewin even told TP what to wear for the ZOOM hearing. At 10:00 AM on Monday, December 14, 2020 TP and Attorney Lewin and NR and her attorney appeared before the Judge via ZOOM. In order to get an Harassment Protection Order NR needed to prove three separate acts of willful and malicious conduct. NR’s affidavit itself did not allege or set forth three separate acts. When the case was called Attorney Lewin told the Judge that the Defense was ready. NR and her lawyer folded their tent and withdrew their request for an order.

November 30, 2020

DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE DISMISSED AT CLERK’S HEARING

by Robert D. Lewin

On January 10, 2020, ZC, a 29 year old software engineer was driving his car in Weymouth when he got pulled over by the state police because his rear registration plate did not have the small sticker affixed to it. When the trooper ran the license and registration it turned out that ZC’s license had been suspended in 2019 for failing to pay a ticket that had been issued against him in 2019. ZC works for the Commonwealth and it was important for him not to have any criminal record. The state trooper issued ZC a citation for Operating After Suspension of License. ZC took the ticket and mailed it to the Quincy District Court and requested a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing.

The following week ZC went to the Registry and paid the old ticket. He had moved and never received the old ticket nor did he ever receive the Notice of Suspension from the Registry. (Of course, it was his obligation to notify the Registry of his change of address.) Once he paid that old ticket he then paid a reinstatement fee and the Registry reinstated his license.

ZC did not want to get a criminal record. ZC met with (via ZOOM) and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin commended ZC for taking care of the old ticket, the change of address, and paying the reinstatement fee and getting reinstated.

November 11, 2020

MISTAKEN IDENTITY CASE WON

by Robert D. Lewin

On January 26, 2020, EG, an 18 year old female high school senior, went to an under 21 night club in Cambridge with two girlfriends. EG had never been there before. At about 1:30 am as EG and her two girlfriends were leaving the club, a twenty year old female who had also been at the club was attacked by three girls who had been at the club. The attack was vicious. The victim’s jewelry was ripped from her body; her iphone was stolen; and a wig that she wears because of a medical condition was ripped off her head. Two of the three girls were identified by a witness who knew them. The third attacker was not identified. As the result of certain text messages sent from EG’s phone, EG was asked to go to the Cambridge Police Station. EG went and met with the police and gave a recorded interview that lasted over an hour. EG steadfastly denied taking place in the attack. Nevertheless, she was charged with being the third attacker. EG was totally innocent and had not participated in the attack in any way. EG was charged with unarmed robbery – a felony punishable by up to life in prison. EG had already been accepted to a prestigious college and needless to say this charge could have derailed her plans for college.

EG and her Mother sought out an attorney. EG and her Mother met with Attorney Robert Lewin of Andover. Due to the coronavirus they met via FaceTime. The initial interview took over two hours. Attorney Lewin explained the seriousness of the charge and what needed to be done to properly prepare and investigate the case. EG and her mother retained Attorney Lewin.

Attorney Lewin sent his investigator out to speak with the two women who had been with EG that night. They both gave statements to the investigator that exonerated EG. They both told the investigator that they and EG left the club together; that they saw the fight taking place; that none of them – including EG – had anything to do with the fight; that they then left the area of the club and went home. One of the girls also told the investigator that her cell phone had died and that she used EG’s cell phone to send the text messages that the police found concerning.

November 5, 2020

SHOPLIFTING CHARGE AVOIDED IN WALTHAM DISTRICT COURT

by Robert D. Lewin

On March 1, 2020, RL, a 22 year old senior at a prestigious local university, went into a market in Waltham and stole (shoplifted) about $36.00 worth of merchandise. She got caught. RL is a Chinese National here on a student visa. She saw her life passing in front of her: she jeopardized her graduation and degree from the University and she jeopardized her ability to return to the United States if she left the U.S. and then tried to return. RL contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin told RL that if the case were handled carefully then prosecution could possibly be avoided. Shortly after March 1 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic RL was forced o return to China.

Attorney Lewin requested a Clerk-Magistrate hearing. The hearing was scheduled for April 2, 2020 but because of the pandemic had to be rescheduled three times. Attorney Lewin spoke at length with the police prosecutor from Waltham and explained the situation that RL had put herself in. Attorney Lewin advocated for the police to dismiss their application for criminal complaint.

On Thursday, October 29, 2020 a virtual (via zoom) Clerk-Magistrate Hearing was held at Waltham District Court. Attorney Lewin explained RL’s situation and (as Attorney Lewin had requested) the police prosecutor told the Clerk-Magistrate that the police were withdrawing their application for criminal complaint. This was the best of all possible results.