Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

On Monday, a man was beaten and assaulted after being identified on video removing a large jar of coins from a friend's apartment. According to the Metrowest Daily News, Michael P. Moore was assaulted in a wooded area near Hollis and Gordon streets. He didn't know if a weapon was involved or not.

An unidentified man told police that Moore broke into his apartment on Saturday and stole $250 in coins. The break-in was caught on videotape, and the man's roommates recognized Moore as a friend who often visited. When the man and a friend ran into Moore on Monday, the friend punched Moore in the face. Moore did not deny the break-in, and stated that he and another person went to the apartment and took the coins.

Moore is charged with larceny and breaking and entering.

Under Massachusetts Law, a conviction of a either of these charges can have serious consequences. Larceny of a sum over $250 is considered a felony and a criminal conviction could mean possible jail time, probation conditions, and require that you submit to DNA testing.

A larceny charge for under $250 is considered a misdemeanor and can often have serious implications, including jail time up to 1 year and other penalties. Penalties for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a misdemeanor can be up to 6 months in prison.

Continue reading "Framingham, Massachusetts man beaten after allegedly stealing $250 in coins" »

Dedham police arrested a 29-year-old woman in Roxbury, on Massachusetts larceny charges, alleging she stole about $355 worth of merchandise from the Dedham Mall Sears earlier this month, The Daily News reported.

Massachusetts larceny charges for a theft of more than $250 are typically a felony. But even misdemeanor charges for thefts under $250 can mean a record that can make it tough to get certain jobs and a conviction can stay with you for years. A Boston defense attorney experienced in representing theft charges in Dedham District Court can help protect your rights and work for the best outcome possible for your case.

Police responded to a call about 8:30 p.m. from store security. The woman was arrested and police reported multiple items of men's and women's clothing in a suitcase the woman used to conceal the items before allegedly leaving the store without paying for them.

The woman pleased not guilty to the Massachusetts shoplifting charges in Dedham District Court and is scheduled to be back in court for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 4.

Also at the Dedham Sears, police arrests a 21-year-old Braintree man on shoplifting charges on Jan. 6, the Daily News reported.

Security reported stopping the man outside the store after he left concealing a Bosch battery-powered drill and two batteries, worth a total of $170, according to police.

The man pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Dedham District Court Jan. 7, and is due back for a pretrial hearing Feb. 12.

Continue reading "Massachusetts larceny charges accuse shoplifters in Dedham District Court" »

A 24-year-old Raynham man is facing Massachusetts drug charges after a raid this week by the Drug Enforcement Administration and police. Authorities seized drugs and more than $100,000 in cash, according to the Brockton Enterprise.

Boston Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael DelSignore is an experienced Boston drug trafficking attorney who fights for the rights of clients facing Massachusetts drug charges in Taunton District Court as well as other serious traffic and criminal offenses.

In this case, the Sunflower Drive man was charged with possession and trafficking in oxycodone and possession and trafficking in marijuana. He was arraigned in Taunton District Court and released after posting $5,000 bail.

Authorities raided the man's home, where they found 156 pills believed to be Percocets and 42 large, heat-sealed plastic bags and two more open bags, all of them containing what is believed the be marijuana, according to The Enterprise.

Police also searched the defendant's mother's house, where they believed he was keeping money, and found three safes, one of which contained 24 bundles of money amounting to more than $100,000.

Continue reading "Massachusetts Drug trafficking charges in Taunton District court follow evidence found in drug raid" »

The recent weapons charge against NBA star Gilbert Arenas illustrates the serious nature with which prosecutors, judges and the public view weapon's violations and the importance of having an experienced attorney fighting for your rights.

Boston Defense Lawyer Michael DelSignore knows the challenges of representing clients facing a Massachusetts weapon's charge. The stigma associated with concealed weapons can cloud the legal issues; having a Massachusetts defense attorney experienced in handling gun charges can be critical to protecting your freedom and your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Arenas, who had a six-year $111 million contract to play for the Washington Wizards, which could be in jeopardy after he was charged with taking four handguns into the team's locker room, has been suspended indefinitely by N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern.

The Wizards have distanced themselves from their star since he pleaded guilty last week, including removing images of him from the arena, according to The New York Times.

"Gilbert Arenas has been a cornerstone of the Washington Wizards for six years," the organization said after Arenas reached his plea deal last week when he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of carrying a handgun without a license. "We are deeply saddened and disappointed in his actions that have led to the events of this afternoon. Gilbert used extremely poor judgment and is ultimately responsible for his own actions."

Arenas is scheduled to be sentenced March 26 and could avoid prison time, an outcome that could work in his favor if the Wizards pursued removing him for breach of contract.

Continue reading "Gun charges against NBA star illustrate need for Boston defense attorney when facing Massachusetts gun charges " »

Police arrested a Hingham man Friday whom they suspect of committing scores of burglaries across the region, according to the Brockton Enterprise.

Anyone facing burglary, breaking and entering, or other property or theft crimes in Quincy District Court or Newburyport District Court should seek an experienced Massachusetts defense attorney to fight the charges. In this case, the defendant is also facing a host of bail and probation violations that will require the knowledge and experience of a qualified Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer.

Newbury police stopped the man at about 1:40 a.m. Friday; he was driving a minivan that had been reported stolen. The six counts Newbury police filed against him bring the crimes he is accused of committing to 68.

The defendant has been under investigation for months; a Quincy District Court judge let the 50-year-old defendant out of jail in December, according to the Enterprise.

The judge ordered the man back to jail in December but he reportedly fled instead. The defendant has almost 50 criminal convictions dating back to 1978 and has been in and out of prison for most of his adult life.

He was arraigned Friday in Newburyport District Court, where is bail was revoked and he was ordered held for 60 days. He is incarcerated in the Essex County jail. He pleaded not guilty to charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, larceny, felony breaking and entering into a vehicle at night, driving with a suspended license and marked lane violations.

Police call him a career criminal who has hit houses and vehicles from Plymouth to Quincy and beyond. Charges among 43 arrest warrants obtained by Marshfield police include a charge accusing him of being a common and notorious thief, which carries a 20-year sentence. He also faces 19 charges by Norwell police, including breaking and entering at night and identity fraud.

Police reportedly found a storage unit in Hingham filled with what they believe is stolen evidence from home and vehicle break ins across the region, including Christmas presents.

Continue reading "Hingham, Massachusetts man faces dozens of theft charges in Quincy District Court" »

A 49-year-old Stoughton man faces charges for allegedly sneaking into the home of an elderly woman while she was asleep in bed, according to the Taunton Daily Gazette.

Such unlawful entry can be prosecuted with a number of charges. But the presence of a homeowner can increase the charges and penalties for what might otherwise be a simple breaking and entering or burglary.

Stoughton, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Michael DelSignore represents clients facing serious criminal charges in Taunton District Court, including robbery, burglary, property crimes, sex crimes and drunk driving offenses in Stoughton.

The defendant was being held on $100,000 cash bail after being arraigned in Taunton District Court. He is charged with unarmed burglary, a subsequent offense, and assault, the latter on a straight warrant for an unrelated incident issued out of Brockton District Court.

Police said the man broke into a 70-year-old woman's Avon Street home while she was asleep with the TV on. Taunton police, and a state trooper with a K-9 Unit, determined access was gained through a side door and that several items were taken, including a pocketbook, several metal boxes, credit cards, gift cards, jewelry, cash and a passport.

Police said they identified the defendant through an anonymous tip. Police also reported finding evidence of other recent burglaries after executing a search warrant at the defendant's mother's residence.

Continue reading "Stoughton, Massachusetts man charged with breaking into elderly woman's home" »

A 40-year-old Webster man has pleaded not guilty in Dudley District Court to charges alleging that he shot two men over a drug deal on Dec. 11, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

An experienced Worcester defense attorney should represent anyone facing serious drug charges, weapons charges or assault charges in Dudley District Court.

In this case, a qualified Worcester defense lawyer will take a serious look at the defendant's claims of self-defense in building a case to defend him; the man claims the shooting occurred in his own apartment and the victims had been trying to rob him.

The defendant was charged by state police detectives with two counts of assault with intent to murder and being in possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card.

He told police he was acting in self-defense because the shooting victims were trying to rob him, the Telegram & Gazette reported. The shooting occurred in his apartment.

The defendant has three pending assault and battery cases. The judge revoked bail in all three cases and set new bail in the amount of $100,000.

The Telegram & Gazette reported that one of the shooting victims was shot in the face and the other remained hospitalized for a gunshot wound to the torso. Both were taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Prosecutors allege the two men showed up at the defendant's house to buy marijuana. The hospital reported that both men showed up at the hospital to be treated for the gunshot wounds. Webster police found "copious amounts of blood" at the shooting scene, according to the police report.

A warrant was obtained to search the defendant's apartment, where four .32-caliber rounds of ammunition were found.

The defendant and his 29-year-old girlfriend were arrested on Dec. 21 in New York City on Massachusetts warrants and questioned about the double shooting. Police allege the two stated the shooting occurred after the men showed up at the apartment to sell them crack cocaine.

There, the girlfriend allegedly told police the defendant removed a pistol from atop the refrigerator, shot the men, and fired four more shots out a second-story window at their fleeing vehicle.

Police report that the defendant admitted to shooting the men.

Continue reading "Self-defense claimed for man facing Massachusetts drug-related shooting charges in Dudley District Court" »

Two men are facing breaking and entering charges in Stoughton District Court after police arrested and charged them on Wednesday with felony daytime breaking and entering, conspiracy and larceny over $250, The Patriot Ledger reported.

Anyone facing charges for property crimes in Stoughton District Court should contact an experienced Stoughton defense lawyer. A qualifed Stoughton defense attorney can help preserve your rights while seeking the best outcome possible for your case.

In this case, police arrested the men, ages 21 and 28, on charges of breaking into a Duggan Street house in Stoughton and stealing nearly $1,000 in personal items.

Stoughton police reported a call from a resident about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday about a suspicious man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and hanging around the backyard of the Duggan Street home.

A responding officer reportedly found one of the defendants near a backyard fence with a bag full of stolen items, including a radio, jewelry box and bottle of Vodka.

The other defendant was allegedly driving the getaway car.

Continue reading "Two men face Massachusetts breaking and entering charges for Stoughton burglary" »

A Hopedale man is facing a Massachusetts Indecent Assault and Battery charge on a child under the age of 14, accosting or annoying a person of the opposite sex and assault and battery after being arrested by Hopedale police, according to the Milford Daily News.

A Milford defense attorney experienced in handling sex crimes in Massachusetts should defend anyone facing a sex crime in Milford District Court.

Arrest of the 50-year-old Fieldstone Way man followed a two-week investigation by the Hopedale Police Departement. The Worcester District Attorney Child Abuse Unit notified police on Dec. 17 of an incident involving indecent assault and battery of a child under the age of 14.

The Worcester District Attorney's office said the report came from a Hopedale school employee. Police said the incident occurred Dec. 12 but released no other details.

The defendant was arraigned this week in Milford District Court and released on personal recognizance. A pre-trial is set for early next month.

An experienced Milford defense attorney can work on behalf of clients charged with DUI or other serious traffic or criminal offenses, including Massachusetts sex crimes, in Milford District Court. Through pre-trial conferences with prosecutors, a Milford defense lawyer will be able to take a look at the state's case and work with clients to achieve the best outcome possible in their case.

Continue reading "Hopedale man faces Massachusetts Indecent Assault and Battery Charge in Milford District Court" »

A Westborough, Massachusetts man, Rodrigo Silva, faces four charges, including two charges of motor vehicle larceny after being arrested by the Northborough police.

It appears that in addition to pending charges in Westborough district court, that according to the Metro West Daily News, that Silva has additional charges pending against him, which the news report states is a subsequent offense of larceny of a motor vehicle.

A charge of larceny of a motor vehicle is a felony offense that carries with it a potential sentence of 15 years if the Commonwealth seeks an indictment or 2.5 years if the charge remains in the district court. A conviction of a subsequent offense charge of larceny of a motor vehicle carries a mandatory minimum one year jail sentence.

In many charges involving motor vehicle larceny, a Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer will attempt to prove that the defendant did not possess the motor vehicle but was merely present in the vehicle as a passenger. Massachusetts criminal law provides that a mere presence in a stolen vehicle is insufficient to prove possession. The Commonwealth would have to prove other factors showing possession of the motor vehicle. Additionally, other defenses a Massachusetts criminal defense attorney would pursue would be to attempt to have the prosecutor reduce the charge from a felony offense to a lesser misdemeanor offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Continue reading "Westborough, Massachusetts man charged with motor vehicle larceny by Northborough police " »

A Massachusetts assault and battery charge was brought against Brian J. Melfie after he was allegedly involved in a fight over a cigarette lighter. A Massachusetts Assault and Battery charge is brought under Chapter 265 Section 13A of the Massachusetts General Laws.

According to the Attleboro Sun Chronicle news account, Melfie struck the alleged victim who was in a wheelchair with a bottle of rum. A Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer would want to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including what actions the parties were taken prior to the incident occurring. Often, Massachusetts assault and battery charges arise when both parties consume alcohol in excess. Given the unusual nature of the fight, this could be an issue for the criminal defense lawyer in this case.

The Attleboro District Attorney requested $ 5000.00 cash bail in this case which was granted by the judge. Typically, a defendant with little or no record would be released on their promise to appear in court, called personal recognizance. In this case, the defendant had a lengthy record and history of probation violations according to the Attleboro Sun report. A judge considers a defendant's record and history of defaults, meaning history of appearing for court when determining an amount to set as bail. Whenever the Commonwealth seeks bail in a case, a defendant is given an opportunity to oppose the bail request through argument by a Massachusetts criminal attorney.

Continue reading "Attleboro, Massachusetts charged with assault and battery held on bail" »

A 22-year-old registered sex offender is being held on $1 million cash bail after he was arrested Tuesday night on a warrant listing three counts of aggravated felonious assault, the Milford Daily News reported.

Assault on a child is a very serious allegation. In this case the allegation goes back 7 years and the case is complicated by the defendant's previous conviction for a sex crime and the fact that the alleged crime occurred in New Hampshire. A Milford defense attorney experienced in representing clients charged with Massachusetts sex crimes would also consider the fact that the alleged crime took place prior to the defendant's 2007 conviction and entry into the sex offender registry.

The Douglas man was arrested shortly before 8:30 p.m. after being pulled over by police. The warrant was issued by the juvenile unit of the Manchester, N.H. Police Department and involve an alleged incident seven years ago regarding the sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, according to the Daily News.

The man was convicted in 2007 of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, according to the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry. He is scheduled to appear in Milford District Court.

Following his Massachusetts court appearance, Manchester Police said the defendant will likely be taken to New Hampshire to answer the charges there. If found guilty, he could face a 10- to 20-year sentence, according to the Daily News.

Continue reading "Convicted sex offender arrested in Milford on a 7-year-old, out-of-state sex charge " »