ATTORNEY GERALD J. NOONAN CONVINCES CLERK-MAGISTRATE TO DISMISS CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST 32 YEAR-OLD BARTENDER FOR IMPROPER STORAGE OF A FIREARM SO LONG AS THE CLIENT DOES NOT GET INTO ANY TROUBLE

Defendant, a 32 year-old bartender from Manchester by the Sea, was charged with Improper Storage of a Firearm. Defendant was recently given a license to carry firearms (LTC). Shortly after getting licensed, Manchester by the Sea Police received an e-mail from a woman who had submitted a letter of recommendation on the Defendant’s behalf when he applied for his LTC. The e-mail stated that the woman wished to rescind her recommendation because the Defendant was abusing cocaine and alcohol and had dramatic mood changes and had bouts of severe aggression. After the e-mail, police were called to Defendant’s residence after receiving a call from different woman who reported that the Defendant was abusing substances and had “10 out of 10 rage.” This woman told police that she was concerned because the Defendant had a black handgun in his home. When police arrived, Defendant was not home. Later on, police went to the Defendant’s apartment when he was home. They asked him about his handgun and he denied having any handgun. Police told him that they received a report from a witness that he did have a handgun. Defendant changed his answer and admitted that he had a handgun. When police entered the apartment, they saw that the handgun was not properly secured or stored.

Result: At a Clerk Magistrate Hearing, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan argued that there was insufficient probable cause to support the charge of Improper Storage of a Firearm because the handgun was within the Defendant’s “control.” In order to convict someone of Improper Storage of a Firearm, the Commonwealth must prove that the firearm was not under the Defendant’s control. Here, Attorney Noonan argued that the firearm was within his control because it was sufficiently nearby (only 18 feet away in his bedroom). Moreover, Attorney Noonan stated that his client had no intention of renewing his LTC or owning any firearms in the future. After hearing, the Clerk-Magistrate decided dismiss the criminal complaint after one-year so long as the Defendant does not get into any trouble.