Patrick J. Noonan

Attorney

About Patrick J. Noonan

Attorney Patrick J. Noonan grew up in Brockton. He graduated from Coyle & Cassidy High School where he was the captain of the varsity football team. Patrick was a very accomplished competitive weightlifter. Patrick won the National Powerlifting Championship (2003), he won the Massachusetts State Powerlifting Championship (2002), and he placed third in the New England Powerlifting Championship (2002).

Patrick graduated, cum laude, from Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, as a Dean’s List student, with a bachelor’s degree in history, and earned membership to Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor’s society for history. Patrick graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts School of Law, where he was a Dean’s List student, and editor of the school’s law review journal. In law school, Patrick earned a special recommendation from the dean of the law school for his valiant effort in saving the life of a fellow student.

Since becoming a licensed attorney in 2011, Patrick J. Noonan has been practicing exclusively in criminal defense. As a criminal defense attorney, Patrick has represented hundreds upon hundreds of clients charged with a wide variety of crimes ranging from misdemeanor offenses to felony offenses. Patrick prides himself on being the complete criminal defense attorney representing clients in all phases of a criminal case, including the investigation-stage, pre-arraignment stage, arraignment, bail hearings, dangerousness hearings, jury trials, bench trials, and on appeal from convictions. Attorney Noonan has represented criminal defendants on appeal in the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. In his career, Attorney Noonan has represented clients charged with homicide, crimes carrying life sentences, felony offenses, and misdemeanor offenses. Attorney Noonan takes great pride in winning cases considered by other attorneys to be unwinnable.

Below you will find a representative sample of Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s successful trials, resulting in not guilty verdicts, successful appeals, resulting in reversal of convictions and orders for new trials, successful motions to suppress evidence, resulting in the dismissal of charges, successful motions to dismiss, favorable plea deals, and successful intervention in investigations, resulting in his clients not being charged with a crime. Attorney Noonan’s successes in high-profile cases have been featured in newspapers, such as the Boston Globe and Boston Herald, and his precedent-setting cases have been featured in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Sidebar with the honorable Richard Chin. (Photo: Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise)

From left, defense attorney Patrick J. Noonan, shows East Bridgewater police officer Peter Belmore, a photograph. (Photo: Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise)

Trial Record: Not Guilty Verdicts

The following are trials where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won not guilty verdicts. This is a representative sample, and not a complete list of Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s trials. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s has a success rate of 82% of trials ending in acquittals.

Manslaughter: Defendant’s distribution of heroin resulting in victim’s overdose death was insufficient as a matter of law to support a Manslaughter conviction. The defense presented evidence that the strength and quantity of the drug, coupled with the Defendant’s lack of subjective awareness regarding the buyer, did not rise to the level of wanton and reckless conduct, and the defense also introduced the testimony from an expert toxicologist that the drugs sold by the Defendant did not cause the victim’s death.
Not guilty entered. Commonwealth v. S.F., Plymouth Superior Court (2017)
Assault with Intent to Murder: Combined effect of the Defendant’s post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol intoxication negated the specific intent to commit murder resulting in the acquittal of the indictment for Assault with Intent to Murder. Commonwealth v. R.P., Brockton Superior Court (2015)

BROCKTON SUPERIOR COURT – Attorney Patrick J. Nooonan holding a knife while questioning a police officer during the trial of Richard Parker, a man accused of assaulting his wife. Parker, who worked for the Boston Fire Department for nearly 26 years and was also a 9/11 responder, faces a charge of assault to murder amid others against his wife, Kimberly Boleza Parker, from an alleged incident in 2011. (Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise)

Rape by Force x 2: Successful defense that sexual intercourse with the alleged victim was consensual; defense presented testimony of two percipient witnesses who undermined the alleged victim’s claim that she was forcibly raped. Not guilty Commonwealth v. B.S., Brockton Superior Court (2015)
Child Rape x4: Successful defense that the child falsely accused the Defendant of rape, where the child’s disclosure was made during a police interrogation in which the child was being investigated for sexual abusing other children in his neighborhood and the rape allegation was motivated to shine the light elsewhere. The jury found the Defendant not guilty of all 11 indictments, charging him with 4 counts of Child Rape, 5 counts of Indecent Assault & Battery, and 2 counts of Dissemination of Obscene Matter. Commonwealth v. B.P., Brockton Superior Court (2012)
Child Rape and Unnatural Acts: The Commonwealth alleged that the Defendant had sex with a 15-year-old child against his will. The defense proved that the sexual encounter occurred when the alleged victim was over the age of 16, when he was an adult, and the sexual encounter was consensual. The jury found the Defendant not guilty of child rape because it is not a crime to have consensual sex with someone over the age of 16, and the jury also acquitted him of the indictment charging him with Unnatural and Lascivious Acts. Commonwealth v. G.G., Plymouth Superior Court (2019)
Child Rape: Defense presented evidence that it was impossible for the Defendant to have committed the offenses against the victim in Massachusetts when he was living in New York during that timeframe. Although the jury convicted him, a new trial was ordered when the defense presented evidence that the Commonwealth withheld exculpatory text messages from the defense. Commonwealth v. L.J., Plymouth Superior Court (2022)
Indecent Assault & Battery: The defense proved that the alleged victim falsely accused the Defendant, her landlord, of sexual assault to avoid eviction and becoming homeless. The Defendant was found not guilty of sexual assault charges. Defense called three witnesses who traveled from Moldavia to testify. Commonwealth v. G.A., Orleans District Court (2014)
Child Enticement: The prosecution alleged that the Defendant enticed two children to come to his home with offers of money, alcohol, and vapes in exchange for sexual favors. The defense presented evidence that the child victims were taking advantage of and exploiting the elderly and cognitively impaired defendant of money. The jury acquitted him of one count of Child Enticement. Commonwealth v. G.G., Plymouth Superior Court (2019)
Aggravated Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon on a Child: The victim, the Defendant’s 12-year-old son, testified that the Defendant repeatedly beat him on the buttocks with a wooden spoon. The prosecution introduced photographs showing numerous linear bruises on the child’s buttocks. The defense argued that the Defendant properly exercised his parental privilege to discipline his son for his misbehavior. The jury found him not guilty. Commonwealth v. C.M., Taunton District Court (2022)
Aggravated Assault & Battery on Intellectually Disabled Person: Successful defense that the Defendant, a direct care worker at a residential group home for disabled persons, used reasonable force to restrain the victim from harming other residents and eloping, contrary to the Commonwealth’s assertion that the Defendant beat and strangled the victim without justification. In less than 20 minutes, the jury found him not guilty. Commonwealth v. V.E., Quincy District Court (2019)
Strangulation, Assault & Battery, Threats: Victim was trespassing on the Defendant’s property, he had a history of trespassing on the property, he was asked to leave the property by the Defendant, but he became aggressive and attempted to strike the Defendant with a wooden object. The jury credited the Defendant’s testimony that he acted in self-defense and found him not guilty of Assault & Battery, Strangulation, and Threats. Commonwealth v. D.V., Plymouth District Court (2022)
Drive-by Shooting: Defendant was ejected from a house party, witnesses testified that he threatened to return and shoot up the house, witnesses later observed shots fired from a moving vehicle, bullets were shot into the home and a vehicle in the driveway. The prosecution introduced a Snapchat video of the Defendant confessing to the shooting while sitting in the backseat of a moving car and holding a firearm. Defense presented evidence that someone else committed the shooting and the Defendant falsely claimed credit for it. The jury found him not guilty of all charges, including Possession of Ammunition without FID, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Malicious Destruction of Property, Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle, and Carrying a Firearm without a License. The jury found him guilty of one count of Carrying an Unloaded Firearm. Commonwealth v. R.D., Brockton District Court (2018)
Lewd, Wanton, and Lascivious Conduct: Witnesses in the drive-thru of a Dunkin Donuts observed a female in the window of an adjacent apartment masturbating with her foot on the windowsill. The defense argued that there was another person in the Defendant’s apartment who could have committed the crime and, even if the Defendant was the culprit, the exposure was not intentional, but negligent. The jury found her not guilty. Commonwealth v. K.D., Brockton District Court (2016)
Open and Gross Lewdness: A witness observed the Defendant sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of a department store masturbating with an erect penis. The witness testified that she immediately reported the incident to the manager. The defense called the managers on duty that day and none of them testified to receiving such a report. The Defendant took the stand in his defense and testified that he never exposed his penis or masturbated. The jury found him not guilty. Commonwealth v. F.P., Quincy District Court (2016)
Assault & Battery: Defendant ran a business transporting people to Logan airport. The victim ran the same type of business. The victim testified that there was an argument between them over a parking space at Logan, the Defendant pushed her to the ground, causing her head to strike the pavement and lose consciousness. The Defendant took the stand and testified that he acted in self-defense. The defense argued that the victim had a motive to falsely accuse the Defendant and exaggerate her injuries because she immediately retained a personal injury attorney. The Defendant was found not guilty. Commonwealth v. P.L., Boston Municipal Court (2017)
Violation of an Abuse Prevention Order: A restraining order against the Defendant ordered him to stay away from the victim. The victim testified that the Defendant was following her on Route 44. The prosecution introduced a video of the Defendant following the victim’s vehicle on Route 44, driving directly behind her. The Defendant testified that he was traveling on Route 44 as part of his regular work routine, he produced receipts from purchases on Route 44, and he had no idea that the victim was driving in front of him. After 12 minutes of deliberation, the jury found him not guilty. Commonwealth v. R.A., Wareham District Court (2019)
Carrying a Firearm while Intoxicated: The Defendant’s father reported to the police that the Defendant was parked outside, drunk, and threatened to shoot himself. Upon police arrival, the Defendant was seated in his vehicle with liquor bottles on the passenger seat. The Defendant had a loaded firearm on his lap. The Defendant was transported to the hospital and his medical records contained evidence of intoxication. The Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant was under the influence of alcohol, which impaired his ability to safely carry his firearm, and he was found not guilty. Commonwealth v. R.S., Barnstable District Court (2022)
Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and Malicious Destruction of Property: The Defendant’s wife testified that the Defendant grabbed her cell phone, beat her with it, inflicted numerous blows to her head with the cell phone, causing it to shatter into pieces. On cross-examination, the wife admitted that she “exaggerated things” and the Commonwealth was unable to prove that the damage to the cell phone exceeded $250. The Defendant was found not guilty of ABDW and Malicious Destruction of Property over $250. Commonwealth v. J.M., Brockton District Court (2015)
Open & Gross Lewdness: The Defendant, a high school student, was accused of masturbating on a school bus. The Commonwealth introduced a surveillance video from inside the bus, showing the Defendant with his hand down his pants and moving his hand around his crotch area. Another student, the victim, seated several rows back from the Defendant, testified that she saw the Defendant’s exposed penis. The defense called a witness, another student, who was sitting next to the Defendant, sharing the same seat, but he did not observe his exposed penis, or anything resembling masturbation. Through cross-examination of the victim, the defense was able to elicit testimony negating an essential element of the offense and the trial judge issued a directed verdict. The Defendant was found not guilty. Commonwealth v. C.M., Brockton District Court (2016)
Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon x 2, Witness Intimidation, and Threats: Defendant was a correctional officer at a juvenile detention facility. He was facing allegations from three juvenile inmates, who accused him of beating them, on numerous occasions, and threatening to harm them if they ever reported the abuse. The defense introduced employment records showing that the Defendant was not working on certain dates when the abuse supposedly occurred. The defense elicited testimony that one victim mistakenly identified the Defendant as one of the employees who beat him. The defense introduced a state audit where the victims were screened for physical abuse and denied any physical abuse. The defense introduced evidence that the victims, who were serving sentences for violent offenses, were suing the juvenile detention facility for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The defense argued that the victims hoped for leniency from the government in exchange for their testimony. The Defendant was found not guilty of two counts of Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon against two victims, and he was found not guilty of Threats and Witness Intimidation of the third victim. Commonwealth v. J.A., Suffolk Superior Court (2018)
Drug Distribution Involving Death: Police responded to the home of the victim who died of a drug overdose. Text messages on the victim’s phone showed that he purchased drugs from the Defendant in the hours preceding his death. The defense successfully suppressed crucial evidence including incriminating statements made by the Defendant to police, a large supply of drugs in the Defendant’s home, and incriminating evidence on the Defendant’s phone of drug sales with the victim. During cross-examination of the lead detective, the defense elicited testimony from a prior hearing where the detective testified that they did not have probable cause to believe that the Defendant distributed the drugs that killed the victim. The Defendant was found not guilty of distributing heroin to the victim. Commonwealth v. J.J., Dedham District Court (2019)
Child Endangerment: A witness testified to observing the Defendant’s vehicle operating erratically, striking a mailbox, and driving onto someone’s lawn. An officer stopped the Defendant’s vehicle and observed fresh vomit on the interior and exterior of the driver’s side door. The Defendant had her three children in the car. The officer testified that the Defendant failed all field sobriety tests. The defense argued that the Defendant had food poisoning. The Defendant attended a funeral reception at a restaurant where she ate the chicken broccoli alfredo and became sick. The defense called witnesses who testified to getting food poisoning from the same chicken broccoli alfredo. Prior to the stop, the Defendant picked up her children from day care. The Defendant called the owner of the day care facility who testified that the Defendant was sober when she picked up her children. The Defendant was found not guilty of OUI-Liquor and Child Endangerment. Commonwealth v. K.G., Brockton District Court (2017)
Larceny by False Pretense: The Defendant owned a company. The victim testified that the Defendant promised him 10% ownership in the company in exchange for $10,000 and the Defendant would pay back the $10,000 within one calendar year. The victim testified that the Defendant never paid him back the $10,000 and never made him a 10% owner in the business. The Defendant’s business partner testified that the Defendant stole $100,000 from the business. The defense argued that the Defendant did not fraudulently induce the victim to part with the money because the victim offered the $10,000 as an investment in the company. The defense argued that he resigned before his deadline to repay the $10,000, the other 50% owner of the company could have repaid the victim, and there were sufficient funds in the business account to pay the victim. The Defendant was found not guilty. Commonwealth v. T.B., Plymouth District Court (2024)
Drug Distribution: A confidential informant told police that the Defendant was distributing drugs. The informant participated in three controlled buys with the Defendant. The police got a search warrant for the Defendant’s home to search for drugs. When they executed the search warrant, police found a large supply of heroin and marijuana in the Defendant’s bedroom. Defendant was found not guilty of drug distribution. Commonwealth v. G.P., Brockton District Court (2020)
Firearm Charges: The Defendant was pulled over in Methuen while returning home to New Hampshire. The officer conducted a query, which found that the Defendant’s driver’s license was suspended, and placed him under arrest. The officer located a loaded firearm in the Defendant’s pant pocket. The officer demanded that the Defendant produce a valid Massachusetts License to Carry Firearms, but the Defendant did not have one. The prosecution had to prove that the Defendant did not possess a valid license to carry firearms. The Commonwealth presented testimony that the Defendant’s name and date of birth were entered into a firearm licensing database, which showed that he was never issued a license to carry firearms. The defense presented evidence that the Commonwealth did not enter the Defendant’s correct name into the database. The defense argued that the Defendant legally purchased the firearm in his home state of New Hampshire and the firearm was properly registered. The defense argued that the Commonwealth failed to prove that the Defendant did not have a valid New Hampshire license for the firearm. The jury found the Defendant not guilty of all charges, all firearms charges, and even the charge of operating with a suspended driver’s license. Commonwealth v. J.C., Lawrence District Court (2023)
Drug Possession: Witnesses testified to observing the Defendant’s car crashing into another vehicle and fleeing the scene. Upon arrival, police observed the Defendant’s vehicle smashed into another car. The officer observed that the Defendant’s speech was slurred, and he was lethargic. The Defendant told the officer that he took his prescription medication, which made him tired. The police searched the Defendant’s vehicle and located a pill, which tested positive for Clonazepam, a Class B drug. The Defendant was found not guilty of OUI-Drugs because the Commonwealth failed to prove that the Defendant’s prescription medication was a prohibited class of drug specified in the statute. To prove the Defendant’s Possession of a Class B drug, the Commonwealth introduced a drug certificate attesting that the pill tested positive as a Class B drug. The drug certificate described the pill as being green in color. However, on cross-examination, the officer testified that the pill he seized was blue in color, not green, raising issues regarding the chain of custody of the pill. The Defendant was found not guilty of all charges, including OUI-Drugs, Operating to Endanger, and Possession of Class B Drug. Commonwealth v. C.O., Quincy District Court (2018)
Assault & Battery on Elderly Person: The Defendant was charged with committing an Assault & Battery on his elderly wife, an aggravated felony. The wife was prepared to testify and wanted him convicted. On the day of trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan filed a motion in limine to introduce evidence of the wife’s violent character, where Attorney Noonan had witnesses present to testify that the wife threw hot coffee at a cashier of Dunkin Donuts. The Commonwealth and the wife vigorously opposed the introduction of this evidence, but the trial judge found that the evidence was admissible to show that the wife assaulted the Defendant, the Defendant acted in self-defense, and the wife had a motive to testify falsely to curry favor with the prosecution. After the trial judge ruled that the evidence was admissible, the prosecution dismissed the case. Commonwealth v. S.O., Dedham District Court (2016)
Open & Gross Lewdness: The victim reported to the police that she observed the Defendant masturbating in his car, while she was stopped next to him at a traffic light. Prior to trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was able to suppress evidence relating to a photo array in which the victim positively identified the Defendant because the photo array was overly suggestive. At trial, the Commonwealth was prepared to have the victim testify that she was able to positively identify the Defendant, independent of the photo array. Prior to the start of the trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan examined the victim and proved that she could not positively identify the Defendant because of her distance from the suspect, her obstructed view of the suspect, poor lighting, her stress level, and the short duration of her observation. After the trial judge ruled that the Commonwealth could not introduce any identification testimony of the victim, the Commonwealth was forced to dismiss the case. Commonwealth v. D.W., Brockton District Court (2016)
Operating under the Influence: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan has won not guilty verdicts in over 25 trials for clients charged with Operating under the Influence of Liquor and Drugs. Attorney has an acquittal rate of 83% in OUI trials.

Appellate Record

The following is a representative sample of Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s successful appeals, including appeals in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, and various District Courts and Superior Courts.

Commonwealth Comenzo, 489 Mass. 155 (2022)(establishing that 15-days of pole camera surveillance targeted on the defendant’s home was a search under the state constitution; defendant had subjective expectation of privacy as he was unaware that hidden police camera on nearby utility police was monitoring the front of his apartment and he did not expect police to monitor his comings and goings by way of that camera; defendant had objective expectation of privacy where pole camera captured footage of residence’s exterior, including front entrance, left side of building, and driveway.)
Commonwealth Garafalo, 104 Mass. App. Ct. 161 (2024)(conduct of defendants was insufficient to establish a violation of the human trafficking statute; order dismissing the sex-trafficking indictment affirmed.)
Commonwealth Padilla, 2023-P-0581 (2024) (search warrant describing items to be seized as “all controlled substances in violation of G.L. c. 94C” held unconstitutional; convictions for drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute, and unlawful possession of firearm reversed, defendant released from prison.)
Commonwealth Pierre-Charles, 98 Mass. App. Ct. 1102 (2020)(search warrant, based on three controlled buys of drugs between defendant and confidential informant, failed to establish a nexus between defendant’s drug-selling activities and the residence to be searched; conviction for distribution of heroin reversed, not guilty entered.)
Commonwealth Marvin, 101 Mass. App. Ct. 1119 (2022)(trooper’s testimony that he smelled alcohol on defendant’s breath after an accident was insufficient to support a conviction for operating under the influence of liquor; conviction reversed, not guilty entered.).
Commonwealth MacLagan, 102 Mass. App. Ct. 1106 (2023)(sufficient evidence to warrant an evidentiary hearing based on plea-counsel’s false representations to defendant inducing him to plead guilty; conviction vacated; charges later dismissed.)
Commonwealth L.J., Plymouth Superior Court (2023)(government withheld exculpatory text messages sent by victim to the Commonwealth during trial; rape and sexual assault convictions vacated; new trial ordered.)
Commonwealth Schnupp, 104 Mass. App. Ct. 1110 (2024)(defendant’s plea to OUI-Liquor vacated upon showing that he would not have entered plea had he known that breath test result of .18% would have been excluded at trial.)
Commonwealth Thompson, 2022-J-055 (2022)(defendant sentenced after larceny conviction, execution of sentence stayed, defendant released from custody pending appeal, as defendant demonstrated meritorious grounds for appeal.)
Commonwealth M.L., Roxbury District Court (2023)(defendant’s admission to sufficient facts on check fraud charges subsequently triggered deportation proceedings, a new trial was ordered based on plea counsel’s failure to advise the client of immigration consequences, and plea counsel was ineffective in pursuing the plea because the facts were insufficient to sustain a conviction on the charges; plea vacated, case dismissed.)
Commonwealth R.B., Northampton District Court (2024)(conviction for Loaded Shotgun in Automobile vacated and reduced to hunting violation.)
Commonwealth T.C., Lawrence District Court (2024)(conviction for Carrying a Dangerous Weapon to wit: machete vacated because the defendant’s plea was involuntary, there were discrepancies in the court papers as to whether the defendant pled guilty or was issued a fine, and court was receptive to defense argument that it is not a crime to possess a machete. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth C.S., Dorchester District Court (2020)(conviction for drug distribution vacated because there was insufficient evidence that the defendant, the driver of a vehicle, was a co-venturer in a drug transaction where the passenger sold drugs to someone on the street. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth J.M., Quincy District Court (2021)(conviction for possession of marijuana vacated because of newly discovered evidence; new inspection of marijuana established weight of marijuana was less than one ounce; case expunged.)
Commonwealth J.H., Quincy District Court (2020)(conviction for possession of heroin vacated because newly discovered evidence revealed that the search of the defendant’s home was unlawful, and the heroin should have been suppressed. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth M.C., Taunton District Court (2017)(defendant’s conviction for arson to defraud insurance company, precluding defendant from becoming a U.S. citizen, vacated. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth V.P., Orleans District Court (2017)(defendant’s conviction for felony larceny over $250 vacated because newly obtained evidence established that the value of stolen property was $115. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth A. Juvenile, Bristol Juvenile Court (2015)(juvenile’s conviction for larceny vacated because there was insufficient evidence to establish that the defendant was an accomplice in an unarmed robbery; defendant was present for the unarmed robbery, had knowledge of the co-defendant’s intent to commit the robbery, but he did not participate in the robbery. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth L.A., Brockton District Court (2017)(defendant’s conviction for giving a prisoner a controlled substance vacated because the defendant’s mere possession of drugs recovered by guards at the security checkpoint did not establish an intent to distribute the drugs to a prisoner. Case dismissed.)
Commonwealth A. Juvenile, Plymouth Juvenile Court (2019)(juvenile’s conviction for breaking and entering vacated because there was insufficient evidence that the juvenile had the intent to commit a felony; evidence merely established that the defendant had the intent to commit a trespass into a vacant home to smoke a cigarette with friends. Case dismissed.)

Publications and News

The following is a representative sample of cases published in newspapers featuring Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s successful criminal defense victories, and publications in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, featuring Attorney Noonan’s successful precedent-setting criminal appeals with favorable rulings by the Massachusetts Court of Appeals and the Supreme Judicial Court. Oftentimes media outlets will seek Attorney Noonan’s opinion on high-profile criminal cases and questions of law.

“SJC hears case on alleged sex buyers, trafficking charges,” published in the Boston Globe (January 6, 2025), an article featuring a case that Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was set to argue before the Supreme Judicial Court on the issue of whether the Massachusetts sex-trafficking statute applied to the conduct of 5 men who responded to an advertisement posted by police in which the police were posing as prostitutes offering sexual services, and the Defendants contacted the undercover officer and agreed to engage in sexual conduct for a fee. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was successful in dismissing the sex-trafficking indictment in the District Court and Superior Court, and Attorney Noonan was successful in persuading the Appeals Court that the statute did not apply to the defendants conduct, affirming the dismissal of the indictment. The case came before the SJC on the Commonwealth’s appeal of Attorney Noonan’s victory in affirming the dismissal of the indictment. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/06/metro/sex-trafficking-sjc-prostitution/
“Search warrant invalid due to lack of ‘particularity,’” published in Lawyer’s Weekly (January 6, 2025), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won the reversal of drug trafficking convictions because the search warrant failed to satisfy the “particularity” requirements of the federal and state constitution because the warrant described the items to be seized as “all controlled substances under G.L. c. 94C” and the supporting affidavit deliberately withheld the description of the narcotics. The article discusses the potential far reaching impact of the ruling on other cases with warrants containing similar language. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2025/01/06/search-warrant-invalid-due-to-lack-of-particularity/
“Justices consider whether all Johns are sex traffickers,” published in the Boston Globe (January 7, 2025), an article featuring a case that Attorney Patrick J. Noonan argued before the Supreme Judicial Court on the issue of whether Johns, or those who offer to pay a prostitute for sex, should be prosecuted under the human trafficking statute. Attorney Noonan won this case in the Appeals Court and the case came before the SJC on the Commonwealths’ appeal. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/06/metro/sex-trafficking-sjc-prostitution/
“Unimpaired driver seeks to overturn OUI conviction,” published in Lawyer’s Weekly (July 19, 2024), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan is appealing the defendant’s conviction for Operating with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 or Above under the per-se theory, where the jury acquitted the defendant under the impairment-theory. Although the jury found that the Defendant was not impaired by alcohol, the Defendant was still convicted because his blood alcohol level exceeded .08. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2024/07/19/unimpaired-driver-seeks-to-overturn-oui-conviction/
“Johns can’t be charged under human trafficking statute,” published in Lawyers Weekly (May 15, 2024), article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was successful in dismissing an indictment for human-trafficking because the Defendants conduct in responding to an advertisement in which undercover officers were posing as prostitutes and the Defendants agreement to engage in sexual conduct with the undercover officer did not constitute human trafficking. The Appeals Court affirmed the order dismissing the indictment. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2024/05/15/johns-cant-be-charged-under-human-trafficking-statute/
“Defense duo shines light on renegade auxiliary cops,” published in Lawyers Weekly (Nov. 16, 2022), article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was successful in proving that Auxiliary Police Officers did not have legal authority to stop the Defendant’s vehicle, detain and search him. This landmark decision set a precedent where Auxiliary Officers can no longer engage in traffic stops, searches and seizures. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2022/11/16/defense-duo-shines-light-on-renegade-auxiliary-cops/
“Pole camera evidence avoids suppression under ‘Mora,’” published in Lawyers Weekly (Feb. 17, 2022), article featuring a landmark case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan successfully proved that 15 days of pole camera surveillance targeted at the defendant’s residence was a search under our State Constitution. The article interviewed privacy experts, who claimed that the case was a victory for privacy rights. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2022/02/17/pole-camera-evidence-avoids-suppression-under-mora/
“Home, cellphone search results must be suppressed,” published in Lawyers Weekly (Vol. 47, Issue No.: 23, June 4, 2018), article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan successfully suppressed the defendant’s confession, the defendant’s consent to search his cellphone, and the defendant’s consent to search his residence, because the police violated his Miranda rights and coerced him into consenting to the searches. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2018/05/31/home-cellphone-search-results-must-be-suppressed/
“Man, 81, acquitted of most charges in child enticement case,” published in Patriot Ledger (April 2, 2019), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won not guilty verdicts in a case where an 81-year-old Hanover man was charged with rape and enticement of two children. https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/crime/2019/04/01/hanover-man-81-acquitted-most/5560940007/
“Judge throws out two lewdness complaints,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (August 2, 2016), an article featuring a high-profile case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won the dismissal of two lewdness complaints for a client accused of exposing his genitals in a public park. https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/crime/2016/08/02/is-public-nudity-lewd-if/27340225007/
“Randolph drug dealer cleared in fatal Stoughton overdose,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (May 31, 2019), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won not guilty verdicts against a Defendant charged with distributing heroin, which caused the overdose death of the buyer. https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/courts/2019/05/31/randolph-man-acquitted-in-fatal/5016669007/
“EB man not guilty of rape,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (August 21, 2015), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won a not verdict for a client accused of forcibly raping a woman at a party. https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/journal-news-independent/2015/04/17/east-bridgewater-man-found-not/34744312007/
“Overdosed driver avoids jail time in favor of treatment,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (February 25, 2017), an article featuring a case where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan defended a man who, while parked in his car, overdosed on heroin while his autistic child was in the backseat and, although the prosecution was seeking jail time, Attorney Noonan persuaded the judge to sentence him to probation with drug treatment. https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/archive/2017/02/24/brockton-overdosed-driver-avoids-jail/22079680007/
“Confession on Snapchat seemed real, but jury decided he was a ‘poser,’” published in the Brockton Enterprise (August 4, 2018), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won an acquittal for a client who confessed to committing a drive-by shooting on Snapchat. The defense argued that the Defendant falsely claimed credit for the shooting to sound tough and to support his online persona as a gangster. https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/courts/2018/08/03/a-snapchat-split-decision-brockton/11073594007/
“Marshfield man acquitted in assault trial,” published by Channel 7 News Boston (July 6, 2022), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won an acquittal for a client charged with physically assaulting, threatening, and strangling a high school kid who was trespassing on his property. https://whdh.com/news/marshfield-man-acquitted-in-assault-trial/
“Man acquitted of child rape,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (August 9, 2012), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won a clean sweep of not guilty verdicts for a man charged of raping and sexually assaulting the child of his former girlfriend. https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/crime/2012/08/09/brockton-man-acquitted-child-rape/40041396007/
“Youth workers charged in abuse,” published in the Boston Herald (July 23, 2015), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan defended a correctional officer accused of abusing inmates at a juvenile detention center and, after a month-long trial, Attorney Noonan secured not guilty verdicts on five of the six charges against him. An investigation led to the total closure of the juvenile detention facility. The case gained significant media attention. https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/11/14/casa-isla-dys-boston-criminal-trial-beings
“Brockton-area overdose trial could set legal precedent,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (May 30, 2018), an article featuring a case where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan represented a man charged with Manslaughter for selling drugs resulting in the overdose death of the victim, the first such case prosecuted in Plymouth County, and the Defendant was ultimately acquitted of Manslaughter.
“Plymouth man charged with falsely representing college,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (April 3, 2013), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan defended a man accused of scamming local businesses out of money by falsely claiming that he was a representative of Massasoit Community College, but Attorney Noonan won a dismissal of all charges.
“Brockton man arrested after car chase,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (February 22, 2014), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan defended a man who fled from an area of gunshots leading officers on a high-speed chase through the city, but Attorney Patrick J. Noonan brokered a deal where all charges were dismissed without any admission of guilt.
“Criminal- ineffective assistance – plea counsel,” published in Lawyers Weekly (January 10, 2023), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won a new trial for a man who pled guilty to assault charges based on a showing that his plea counsel rendered ineffective assistance by making a series of false misrepresentations that induced him to plead guilty. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2023/01/10/criminal-ineffective-assistance-plea-counsel/
“Motor vehicles – OUI – crash scene,” published in Lawyers Weekly (October 2, 2022), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan reversed a man’s conviction for drunk driving because the evidence of his intoxication was insufficient, where the evidence only established that the Defendant caused a car accident and had an odor of alcohol on his breath. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2022/10/10/motor-vehicles-oui-crash-scene/
“Search and seizure – consent – language barrier,” published in Lawyers Weekly (June 30, 2021), an article featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan proved that his client’s consent for the police to search her home for weapons was invalid because testimony from a linguistics expert established that the defendant, a Chinese woman, could not read or understand the consent to search form, and all charges were later dismissed. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2021/06/30/search-and-seizure-consent-language-barrier/
“Police: 2 arrested, guns and ballistic vest seized after chase ends in Brockton crash,” published by Channel 7 News Boston (January 15, 2021), about a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan defended man charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition after a high-speed police chase. Attorney Noonan won dismissal of all charges. https://whdh.com/news/police-2-arrested-guns-and-ballistic-vest-seized-after-chase-ends-in-brockton-crash/
“Search and seizure – nexus – drugs,” published in Lawyers Weekly (July 16, 2020), featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan reversed a man’s convictions for drug distribution because the search warrant, based on controlled drug purchases with a confidential informant, did not establish probable cause to believe that drugs would be found in the Defendant’s home. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2020/07/16/search-and-seizure-nexus-drugs-3/
Motor vehicles – OUI – Draeger Alcotest 9510,” published in Lawyers Weekly (June 18, 2024), featuring a case in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan won a new trial because the defendant would not have pled guilty to drunk driving had he known that the results of his breathalyzer test were inadmissible. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2024/06/18/motor-vehicles-oui-draeger-alcotest-9510/
“Frequent Fliers at the Court: The Supreme Court Begins to Take the Experience of Criminal Defendants into Account in Miranda Cases,” published in the Seton Hall Circuit Review, 7 Seton Hall Cir. Rev. Vol. 7, No. 2, 2011, a law review article written by Joshua Engel, where the author cites a published work of Attorney Patrick J. Noonan, “The Death of Miranda v. Arizona,” which analyzes the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Berghuis v. Thompkins. The article quoted the following passage from Noonan’s work: “Thompkins takes the power to exert control over the course of the interrogation from the defendant and places it back into the hands of the interrogator.”
“Pole camera surveillance poses privacy questions for Massachusetts, U.S. Courts,” published The Scope Boston by Jake Egelberg (December 29, 2021), an article featuring a case of Attorney Patrick J. Noonan, Commonwealth v. Comenzo, in which Attorney Noonan convinced the Supreme Judicial Court that pole camera surveillance targeted at the Defendant’s home was a search under the state constitution, a victory for privacy rights, and the article quotes privacy experts who say that advancements in pole camera technology will significantly expand police capabilities, including facial recognition. https://thescopeboston.org/7459/news-and-features/features/pole-camera-surveillance-poses-privacy-questions-for-massachusetts-u-s-courts/
“Appeals Court vacates assault conviction over police identification,” published in Lawyers Weekly (October 25, 2024), an article where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was asked to provide his opinion about a recent ruling by the Appeals Court where officers were improperly permitted to identify the defendant as the assailant in a surveillance video. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2024/10/25/appeals-court-vacates-assault-conviction-over-police-identification/
“Free speech advocates assault judge’s verdict in texting-suicide manslaughter trial,” published in the Sun Chronicle (June 16, 2017) where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan provided his commentary about the court’s verdict in the high-profile Michelle Carter case, stating his belief that manslaughter convictions based on words alone sets a dangerous precedent. https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/free-speech-advocates-assail-judges-verdict-in-texting-suicide-manslaughter-trial/article_22566b92-018a-5f18-9217-a24bb292b2ac.html
“Defense lawyers question Plymouth County District Attorney’s Record on Exposing Cops with Credibility Issues,” published in the Brockton Enterprise (October 5, 2020), in which Attorney Patrick J. Noonan, an experienced criminal defense attorney in Brockton, was asked to provide his comment about his experience with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office providing “Brady” disclosures to defense attorneys regarding police officers with credibility issues. https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/courts/2020/10/05/defense-lawyers-question-plymouth-county-district-attorneys-record-on-exposing-cops-with-credibility/114514028/
“Brockton police upset man arrested twice and bailed out 3 times is back on the streets,” published in the Patriot Ledger (September 26, 2015) where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was asked to provide his opinion about the procedure of bailing out arrested persons from the police station. https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/crime/2015/09/27/brockton-police-upset-man-arrested/33437462007/
“State trooper accused in double fatal crash allowed Maine vacation with family,” published by WCVB NewsCenter 5 (July 29, 2014) where Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was asked to provide his opinion about a judge’s decision to permit a State Trooper, awaiting trial for motor vehicle homicide, to go on vacation with his family. https://www.wcvb.com/article/state-trooper-accused-in-double-fatal-crash-allowed-maine-vacation-with-family/8205628
“Time to get a public urination statute on the books,” published by Lawyers Weekly (Vol. 45, Issue No.: 44, October 31, 2016), an article authored by Attorney Patrick J. Noonan which discusses the way in which Massachusetts punishes the act of public urination under its Indecent Exposure statute, why this is a problem, and how Massachusetts should punish the act of public urination. https://masslawyersweekly.com/2016/10/27/time-to-get-a-public-urination-statute-on-the-books/
“Nobody’s Perfect: the need for new expungement law,” published in the Lawyers Journal (Vol. 22, No.: 10, June 2015), an article authored by Attorney Patrick J. Noonan which examines the difference between sealing a criminal record and expunging a criminal record in Massachusetts. The article advocates for a reform of our laws relating to the expungement of criminal records.
“You do have the right to remain silent,” published in the Lawyers Journal (Vol. 20, No.: 10, June 2013), an article published by Attorney Patrick J. Noonan, which examines a detainee’s right to remain silent during police interrogation in Massachusetts.
“Death of Miranda v. Arizona” published by Bepress Scholarly Publishing (January 2010), an article authored by Attorney Patrick J. Noonan examining the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Berghuis v. Thompkins, which peels back Miranda protections in police interrogations.
Parick J. Noonan was an editor of “Detention Status Review Process in Transnational Armed Conflict: Al Maqaleh v. Gates and the Parwan Detention Facility,” an article written by U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Jody M. Prescott and published in the UMass-Law Review Trends and Issues in Terrorism and the Law (5 U. Mass. Roundtable Symp. L. J. (2010)
“Removing the Cloak of Immunity” published by Bepress Scholarly Publishing (January 2010), an article authored by Patrick J. Noonan, then a law student, which examines whether a physician should be criminally charged with Manslaughter for medical malpractice.