Violation of a Protective Order – NOT GUILTY AFTER TRIAL

TD is a 57 year old investigative reporter and publisher of a monthly newspaper in the Merrimack Valley. A woman in New Hampshire whom he was investigating obtained a protective order against TD. The order required him to stay away from her and to not enter upon her place of employment. On April 20, 2024, TD attended an engagement party at a church in Methuen. During the course of the party, TD posted a picture on Facebook showing him at the party within the church. Unbeknownst to TD, the woman allegedly had an office within the church and used the church to run certain functions. While at the engagement party, TD learned that the woman used the parking lot of the church to park her vehicles. Upon learning this, TD immediately left the engagement party. TD went home and went to bed. At one in the morning the police were at his door, woke him up, arrested him for allegedly violating the order, cuffed him, and brought him to the police station. TD was denied bail and spent the remainder of the weekend in jail.

TD had a lawyer who handles his civil affairs. He called the civil lawyer from the jail and the civil lawyer called Criminal Law Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. On Sunday, April 21, 2024 Attorney Lewin went to the Methuen Police Station and met with TD. Attorney Lewin agreed to represent TD. At the police station, Attorney Lewin was able to gather all the information he needed to represent TD the next morning at TD’s Arraignment in Lawrence District Court. On Sunday night, Attorney Lewin prepared a lengthy memorandum for the Judge setting forth the reasons why TD should not be held on bail, but rather released. On Monday, April 22, 2024, TD was transported to court by the police. TD was arraigned and the Judge agreed with Attorney Lewin that TD should be released and he was released. The case was continued to May 23, 2024 for a pre-trial and the case was then set down for trial on July 29, 2024. Attorney Lewin, working with TD, fully prepared the case for trial. There were five defense witness whom Attorney Lewin spoke with in detail. The witnesses were fully prepared to testify. Attorney Lewin fully prepared TD to testify. In addition, Attorney Lewin had taken a series of pictures of the exterior of the church which proved very helpful at the trial. TD himself was an extremely helpful and cooperative client.

On Tuesday, July 29, 2024, the case was called for trial by jury in Lawrence District Court and both sides answered that they were ready for trial. The trial went all day on Tuesday and the jury got the case on Wednesday mid-morning. Attorney Lewin made a very forceful closing argument to the jury. It took the jury 36 minutes to return with a verdict of NOT guilty. TD gave Attorney Lewin a bear hug in the Courtroom! It just doesn’t get much better.

Attorney Robert Lewin has been trying jury cases for over 50 years with an incredible record of successful NOT guilty verdicts. There are very few lawyers practicing in the Commonwealth with this level of experience and success.

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