At around 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 27th, a thin, dirty-blond haired man knocked on the door of the Kontsas' home. Dorothea told police that she recalled seeing a small green SUV outside of her home around the same time. When Dorothea opened the door, the man handed her an envelope addressed to her son and immediately stepped into the couple's foyer while saying "Give me the money, give me the money."
The man then stabbed Georgios and his wife using a knife with a 12-inch serrated blade. Assistant District Attorney Brian Wilson said that Georgios died on the scene while his wife, who had sustained several stab wounds including one to the neck, escaped to a neighbor's house where the police were called.
Based on the description given by Dorothea, police went to Rooney's home where they found a small, green SUV with blood stains inside. Other evidence recovered included two folded envelopes contained inside the envelope the man handed to Dorothea, one of which contained a fingerprint belonging to Rooney.
In addition to the charge of murder, Rooney is also charged with assault on a person over the age of 60 with the intent to murder, home invasion, armed assault in a dwelling as well as assault and battery on a person over 60.
This case involves a Massachusetts search warrant and charges the defendant as a repeat drug offender. A Massachusetts defense lawyer experienced in search and seizure laws and drug violations should be called to represent the defendant in Framingham District Court.
The Metro Daily News reported the defendant managed to evade several pursuing police cars in Natick but was later captured by Framingham police after his car ran out of gas.
He was arrested about 8:45 p.m. on Pamela Road in Framingham, more than two hours after Natick police first attempted to pull him over on Route 9, according to authorities. Police reported they had a search warrant for the defendant's Chrysler as part of a drug investigation.
An officer spotted his car and attempted to make a traffic stop, but police report that the defendant drove through seven red lights and around several police cars -- at one point, traveling the wrong way on Route 9 near Natick Collection. Police lost the car on Concord Street in Framingham after a four-mile chase.
Framingham police reported finding the car and the defendant in the Temple Beth Shalom parking lot on Pamela Road, where it had run out of gas.
The defendant was charged with distributing cocaine, a subsequent offense, driving with a license that was revoked for being a habitual offender, failing to stop for police and driving to endanger.
The case is under investigation and it is not known whether drugs were found in the car. The defendant was released after posting $1,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Framingham District Court.
Michael DelSignore has an office conveniently located in Westborough and offers free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (508) 455-4755.
]]>Providence narcotics detective Joseph Colanduono, 44, helped to sell cocaine. In addition to his duties for the city, Colanduono was assigned to work with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Gonsalves, a former driver for Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline., used cocaine himself and solicited others to commit crimes. Gonsalves and Colanduono had both received honors for their police work in the past. Cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, $9000 in cash, and a loaded gun were seized in police searches connected with the officers' arrest.
Cicilline said that the officers' arrest will have "very serious consequences. Good law enforcement relies on the public's trust and confidence in the Police Department and, any time a police officer engages in this kind of behavior, that trust and confidence is undermined." Cicilline wants tests and has within the Police Department.
As a Massachusetts drug possession attorney, I am all too aware of the serious penalties for anyone convicted in Massachusetts (and Rhode Island) of the offenses that these officers are charged with. Anyone charged with drug possession or distribution needs zealous representation by an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney like Attorney Michael DelSignore. Attorney DelSignore may be able to successfully defend those charged with drug offenses by getting improperly collected evidence and unconstitutional testimony excluded.
]]> For a free consultation, please call our office at 508-455-4755 or send an email. You can also set up an appointment at one of our four offices in Stoughton, Westborough, or New Bedford. ]]>A Massachusetts defense lawyer experienced in handling charges involving an assault on a law enforcement officer should be called to represent anyone accused of a physical altercation with a police officer or security guard.
Police report that the 23-year-old North Smithfield, R.I., woman tossed her hot coffee on the 64-year-old Brookline parking enforcement officer as the officer was writing out a $25 ticket for an expired meter on Tuesday.
The security guard was not hurt. Certainly, whether law enforcement should consider a beverage as a "dangerous weapon" in an assault will be an issue for a Massachusetts defense attorney to contest.
A friend of the defendant's said the security guard instigated the argument; the defendant was released on her own recognizance and ordered to return to court in April.
The Law offices of Michael DelSignore are conveniently located in Stoughton and Attleboro. Call (508) 455-4755 for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.
]]>The backlog of evidence in state labs across the country is increasingly an issue. It also means law enforcement very often does not have evidence results during investigation and interviews with potential suspects, which can lead to erroneous charges. Anyone facing a criminal charge involving forensic evidence in Massachusetts should contact an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney to discuss their rights.
Delays in DNA testing or faulty results in overworked labs can also impact criminal defense, as well as those behind bars who are awaiting possible release through DNA evidence or other advanced lab work.
In Rhode Island, statistics from the Department of Health's State Health Laboratories report there are 94 criminals waiting to have their cases analyzed for DNA evidence. The lab's director Dr. Ewa King, said backlog in state labs has become a nation epedemic and called the Rhode Island situation "critical."
"We are doing comparably as bad as others, or just as well as the others," Dr. King said. "The trend is we are receiving more cases and we have the same number of analysts who are working on it. So our backlog is not decreasing."
Staffing at the lab has fallen by 20 percent - from 83 people in 2006 to 68 staffers left after budget cuts.
King said staff works with the Attorney General's office when deciding which cases get tested and which sit on a shelf. Such a subjective system (to say nothing of the lack of available testing and resources often present in building a defense case) can only lead to inequity.
The lab has been further stressed by H1N1 (Swine Flu) testing and by tests for the national Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). That system mandates felons convicted of certain criminal offenses provide a DNA sample for cross-comparison and storage. The system is linking possible defendant's to cold cases with increasing frequency.
The end result can be a defendant facing charges for a crime that is years, or even decades, old based on evidence examined by an overworked and underfunded state lab -- where the primary business is building cases for law enforcement and state prosecutors.
"We've had cases where we'll put our crime scene evidence into CODIS and it will match with a convicted felon from another state," said Robin Smith, supervisor of the forensic biology lab. "They're able to give us the name of the person that committed the crime in Rhode Island."
The program has made 187 matches since 2004 but the work is labor intensive -- 3,300 DNA samples were taken in 2008 alone.
]]> Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael DelSignore fights for the rights of clients facing serious criminal charges. Call for a free consultation at 508-455-4755 or 401-465-1611 or by email. ]]>A Quincy, Massachusetts defense lawyer experienced in handling Massachusetts sex crimes should represent anyone facing allegations of sexually assaulting a child in Massachusetts.
In this case, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, providing obscene material to a child, and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation. Each of the charges carried a maximum sentence of 2 years; no more than a 10-year sentence could have been imposed on the sexual assault charge.
The girl was 9-years-old at the time of the abuse. The charges accused the defendant of inviting the girl to an upstairs office at his home in Halifax, where he forced her to touch him while pornography played on the television, according to the Patriot Ledger. Prosecutors said the abuse happened on several occasions between 2006 and 2007.
]]> Quincy Defense Attorney Michael DelSignore represents clients facing serious traffic and criminal offenses in Quincy District Court, including Massachusetts OUI charges, drug charges, assault and battery and sex crimes.Call for a free consultation at 508-455-4755 or send an email.
The Law Office of Michael DelSignore is conveniently located in Stoughton.
]]>A Worcester defense lawyer experienced in fighting for the rights of clients charged with Massachusetts sex crimes should be called to defend anyone facing sexual assault charges in Central District Court. Sex crimes, particularly allegations of sex crimes involving children in Massachusetts, can be devastating and can result in serious jail time, job loss and loss of reputation.
In this case, the defendant was found guilty of indecent assault and battery on a child after a jury trial. The six-member jury found that the defendant touched the girl in an inappropriate manner in a classroom in September 2002. The defendant taught at the school from 1999 to 2003.
The Webster man was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and must serve six months of the sentence. The balance will be suspended for five years of probation. As a condition of probation, the defendant is allowed to have no contact with the victim or her family and no contact with children under 16.
He also must register as a sex offender, obtain sex offender counseling and submit to electronic monitoring. Charges remain pending against the defendant, accusing him of three counts of indecent assault and battery. Those charges allege he had inappropriate contact with three other students at the school. Those cases have been continued until March 2.
Still pending against Mr. Soule are three additional counts of indecent assault and battery on a child involving three other alleged victims who were students of his at the school. Those cases have been continued to March 2.
The defendant had been working as an instructional assistant at the Seven Hills Charter Public School until he was arraigned on the charges April 13. The school has since placed him on leave and banned him from school property.
]]> Worcester Defense Lawyer Michael DelSignore represents clients facing Massachusetts sex crimes and other serious traffic and criminal offenses, including drug charges and Worcester OUI charges.The law office of Michael DelSignore is located in Westborough for your convenience.
Call (508) 455-4755 for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your case.
]]>From the article it is unclear as to why the vehicle was stopped, where the narcotics were found or what the basis was to search the vehicle if any search was conducted. Many Massachusetts drug possession and distribution cases arise from traffic stops. These cases generally raise numerous and complex legal issues that require an individual to hire an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer to review the police report and to determine if there are constitutional defenses to the case based on an illegal search and seizure.
]]> Attorney DelSignore is a Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer practicing in the Attleboro District Court. Attorney DelSignore has an office across the street from the court at 7 North Main Street for your convenience. Additionally, Attorney DelSignore regularly appears in courts throughout Massachusetts, including Attleboro, Taunton, Fall River and Dedham District Courts. Attorney DelSignore will provide a free consultation and handles drug cases, assault and battery charges, domestic assaults and drunk driving cases. Call now for a free consultation, 508-455-4755. ]]>An experienced Worcester, Massachusetts defense lawyer should represent anyone facing Massachusetts weapons charges, drug charges or other serious criminal charges in Worester Superior Court. An experienced Worcester defense attorney can sometimes use search and seizures laws in Massachusetts drug cases to get evidence dismissed.
In this case, the defendant was indicted in 2008 on 30 firearm and drug charges after a police raid that authorities say netted heroine, cocaine and two caches of loaded weapons.
An Assistant District Attorney said the charges were dropped after the defense won two motions to suppress evidence, noting the remaining evidence was not sufficient to obtain a conviction.
The Worcester police vice squad and SWAT team conducted the raid after obtaining a search warrant. The defendant was not home and officers arrested him before an arrest warrant had been officially prepared and issued. The judge threw out evidence found during the arrest, including heroin and ammunition. The judge also ruled evidence found in one of five garage units was inadmissible because the warrant had not specified which garage unit was to be searched.
]]> Worcester Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael DelSignore represents clients facing Massachusetts drug charges, weapons charge, Worcester OUI charges, and other serious traffic and criminal offenses in Worcester and the surrounding area.The Law Office of Michael DelSignore is conveniently located in Westborough.
Call for a free consultation at 508-455-4755 or send an email.
The Law Offices of Michael DelSignore has offices conveniently located in Westborough.
Call for a free consultation, 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
]]>A Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer should represent anyone facing serious traffic or criminal charges in Attleboro District Court, including Attleboro drunk driving charges, theft charges and Massachusetts drug charges.
Police say the man was already out on court supervision and wearing a GPS bracelet for another criminal case accusing him of assaulting a police officer after a high-speed chase.
The defendant was ordered held in jail on $50,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty earlier this week in Attleboro District Court. Police say the man stole a car from a Citgo gas station at South Common and was stopped by a patrolman a few miles away on route 106.
Police reported finding a double-edge knife and a small folding knife in his possession. The defendant allegedly told police he was on his way to confront a man with his ex-girlfriend after getting into an argument on the phone.
It is unclear whether he could face probation violations after being placed on supervision as a result of the 2008 case for assaulting an officer. The defendant faces charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle, using a motor vehicle without authority, driving with a revoked license because he is a habitual traffic offender and carrying a dangerous weapon.
The Law Offices of Michael DelSignore are conveniently located in Stoughton and Attleboro.
Call for a free consultation at 508-455-4755 or send an email.
]]>A Brockton criminal defense attorney should be called to represent anyone facing theft or drug charges in Brockton District Court. As this case illustrates, fighting such charges can be a critical step to protecting your job and future ability to obtain employment.
In this case, the defendant is accused of stealing $120 from a lieutenant's locker at the North Cary Street station as fellow firefighters responded to a fire-alarm box and Ames and Intervale streets. The firefighter has since entered a drug treatment program, where he continues to receive treatment, according to court records.
The 26-year-old Brockton resident is scheduled to be in Brockton District Court on March 22, for a pretrial hearing. He faces charges of larceny, a Massachusetts drug possession charge (Class E substance -- Suboxone) and pulling a false fire alarm.
The fire chief reported that the defendant has been a firefighter for about 12 years and is officially on vacation, though he wouldn't discuss possible sanctions. He earned $78,346 last year as a firefighter.
The defendant reportedly admitted he had a drug problem when confronted by the lieutenant about the missing money. He said he was addicted to the prescription drug Suboxone, a drug used to treat opiate addiction, and had resorted to buying it on the street, according to the police report.
]]> Brockton Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael DelSignore represents clients facing theft and drug charges in Brockton District Court as well as other serious traffic and criminal offenses, including Massachusetts OUI charges.Call for a free consultation at 508-455-4755 or send an email.
The Law Office of Michael DelSignore is conveniently located in Stoughton.
]]>A Taunton, Massachusetts defense lawyer should be contacted to represent anyone facing serious driving charges or other criminal violations in Taunton District Court. In this case, law enforcement piled on about a dozen serious criminal charges in response to the defendant's reported attempts to flee.
Police accuse the man of stealing a license plate for his girlfriend's car so we could drive the vehicle after its registration had been revoked.
The 36-year-old defendant was spotted about 3:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon, sparking a chase through Hart's Four Corners after police attempted to stop the Honda Civic with stolen plates.
Police report the driver drove over yellow lines passing cars, ran a red light and almost crashed after hitting railroad tracks at high speed. He later fled on foot and attempted to scale a fence.
During a search of the defendant and the vehicle, police reported finding marijuana, prescription medication, heroin and drug paraphernalia.
The defendant was charged with failing to stop for police, driving a vehicle with stolen plates, driving to endanger, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a car), possession of a class D drug with intent to distribute, possession of a class A drug, resisting arrest, operating after having his license revoked, driving an uninsured vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The Daily Gazette reported the man also had outstanding warrants, charging him with receiving stolen property, larceny of more than $250 and larceny of less than $250.
]]> Taunton Defense Attorney Michael DelSignore is a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer in Massachusetts, representing clients facing DUI charges and criminal offenses in Taunton and the surrounding area. Call for a free consultation at 508-455-4755 or send an email.
Based on this report, police organized a massive manhunt involving 40 to 50 officers, a state police officer, and K-9 and tactical units. Police also created and distributed a sketch of the alleged intruder based on Ms. Smith's description.
As a result of perceived inconsistencies in Smith's story, police now believe that Ms. Smith accidentally discharged her .357 revolver after hearing a noise and becoming frightened.
A hearing to determine if criminal charge originally scheduled for February has been postponed to March 5.
A Massachusetts Criminal Defense lawyer should be called to represent anyone facing charges of filing a false police report.
Under Massachusetts' law (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268, Section 13a), it's illegal to file a false police report.
Possible consequences if convicted of making a false report include fines of up to $500 and possible jail or prison for up to a year.
In order to be convicted of filing a false report, prosecutors must show each of the following:
• The person made or caused to be made a report of a crime to the police,
• The report was false,
• The person intended to make the false report, and
• The person knew the report was false.