Commonwealth v. J.S. – Newburyport District Court

ATTORNEY GERALD J. NOONAN GETS GUN CHARGE DISMISSED AGAINST MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE FOR LOSING HIS SHOTGUN ON A HUNTING TRIP.

Defendant went pheasant hunting in West Newbury. When getting ready to leave the hunting site, he placed his shotgun against a tree while he loaded his truck to leave. When he left the hunting location, he forgot that he left his shotgun leaning against a tree. A week later, somebody found the shotgun and turned it into the police. Defendant was charged with Improper Storage of a Firearm (G.L. c. 140, §131L).

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan presented a lot of evidence to the clerk-magistrate about his client’s background. He graduated from high school as the all-time leading scorer in basketball and led his soccer time to three State titles. He recently graduated from Regis College with honors boasting a 3.2 GPA. In college, he helped led his basketball team to a conference title. At present, he was employed at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Cardiology Department. Attorney Noonan argued that his client made an innocent mistake. His client acted responsibility by immediately reporting to police that his firearm was missing. He brought police to the location where he left the firearm and he searched the area exhaustively. He grew up in Vermont where he hunted with his father since he was young. Firearms were a big part of his life growing up and he loved hunting. Attorney Noonan convinced the clerk to dismiss the criminal complaint on the condition that his client complete a firearms safety course.