Case Results
Commonwealth v. John Doe – Palmer District Court
CHARGE OF IMPROPER STORAGE OF A FIREARM AGAINST FARMER DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT.
Defendant is a 25-year-old man with no criminal record. He resides in New Hampshire where he operates a 52-acre farm and butcher shop. Defendant went hunting with friends in Massachusetts. Defendant parked his car on a trail in the woods. Someone called 911 to report that the car doors of the Defendant’s vehicle were open. An officer responded and noticed the car doors opened. Inside the vehicle, in plain view, were numerous shotguns and ammunition. The officer seized the firearms and ammunition, closed the car doors, and left a note for the Defendant to contact police. Defendant contacted the police and apologized for his mistake in leaving the car doors open. Defendant was charged with Improper Storage of a Firearm pursuant to G.L. c. 140, §131L. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was able to persuade the prosecutor to dismiss the case prior to arraignment. As a result, the client has no criminal charge on his record arising out of this incident.
Commonwealth v. John Doe – Plymouth Superior Court
DEFENDANT WAS CHARGED WITH ARMED ROBBERY AND STABBING A VICTIM. A JUDGE FOUND THE DEFENDANT DANGEROUS AND ORDERED HIM HELD IN JAIL PENDING TRIAL. ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN APPEALED TO THE SUPERIOR COURT, WINNING HIS CLIENT’S RELEASE. CLIENT IS FREE WHILE HE AWAITS TRIAL.
The defendant was alleged to be a joint-venturer in the robbery of the victim. During the robbery, the victim was stabbed serious times and sustained very serious injuries. The Commonwealth alleged that the Defendant was one of the persons who stabbed the victim in the robbery. Defendant was charged with Armed Robbery pursuant to G.L. c. 265, §17 and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon pursuant to G.L. c. 265, §15B. The Commonwealth moved the court to hold the Defendant in jail pending trial on the grounds that he was too dangerous to be released, given the serious nature of the case. The judge found the Defendant dangerous and ordered him held in jail pending trial. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan appealed and persuaded a Superior Court Judge that the Defendant should be released on strict conditions, which would assure the safety of the public and the victim. The Superior Court Judge released the Defendant on very strict conditions and he remains free as he awaits trial.
Commonwealth v. John Doe – Palmer District Court
CHARGE OF IMPROPER STORAGE OF A FIREARM AGAINST FARMER DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT.
Defendant is a 25-year-old man with no criminal record. He resides in New Hampshire where he operates a 52-acre farm and butcher shop. Defendant went hunting with friends in Massachusetts. Defendant parked his car on a trail in the woods. Someone called 911 to report that the car doors of the Defendant’s vehicle were open. An officer responded and noticed the car doors opened. Inside the vehicle, in plain view, were numerous shotguns and ammunition. The officer seized the firearms and ammunition, closed the car doors, and left a note for the Defendant to contact police. Defendant contacted the police and apologized for his mistake in leaving the car doors open. Defendant was charged with Improper Storage of a Firearm pursuant to G.L. c. 140, §131L. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was able to persuade the prosecutor to dismiss the case prior to arraignment. As a result, the client has no criminal charge on his record arising out of this incident.
Commonwealth v. John Doe
AN 18-YEAR-OLD WHO RECENTLY ENLISTED IN THE MILITARY WAS CHARGED WITH BREAKING & ENTERING AND FACED TERMINATION FROM THE MILITARY, BUT ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN PERSUADES THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE TO DROP THE CASE. CLIENT IS CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
A person called 911 to report that three masked men had broken into their apartment. When police arrived on the scene, they apprehended three suspects within the area. Police encountered the Defendant on a sidewalk, a few streets away from the apartment. All three suspects were charged with Breaking & Entering in the Daytime to Commit a Felony pursuant to G.L. c. 266, §18. Defendant was 18 years-old. He had just graduated from high-school as an honor student and standout athlete. He enlisted in the military and was scheduled to begin basic training when he was arrested. Defendant’s military service was put on hold pending the outcome of this criminal case. If the Defendant was convicted, plead guilty, or accepted some sort of plea deal, even a plea deal resulting in a non-conviction, he would be terminated from the military. In order for the Defendant to serve in the military, this case had to be dropped. Anything else would result in his termination. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was able to persuade the prosecutor’s office to drop the case. Attorney Noonan would like to thank the prosecutor’s office. At this time, Defendant is currently serving his country in the military, his lifelong dream.
Commonwealth v. John Doe
ATTORNEY GERALD J. NOONAN GETS DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND BATTERY CHARGES DISMISSED AGAINST HIGH-RANKING OFFICER IN MILITARY.
Defendant has been in the military for 20 years and is a highly decorated officer. Defendant was charged with Assault & Battery on a Family / Household Member pursuant to G.L. c. 265, §13M. If the Defendant was convicted, his military career would be ruined. Defendant retained Attorney Gerald J. Noonan, who prepared the case for trial. At trial, Attorney Noonan was able to get the charge dismissed and the Defendant can continue his service in the Air Force.
Commonwealth v. John Doe – Plymouth Superior Court
CLIENT WAS FACING A MINIMUM-MANDATORY PRISON SENTENCE OF 5 YEARS ON AN INDICTMENT FOR SEX-TRAFFICKING BUT WALKS AWAY WITH A MISDEMEANOR CONVICTION, 2 YEARS OF PROBATION, AND NO SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION.
Defendant was charged with Trafficking of a Person for Sexual Servitude pursuant to G.L. c. 265, §50(a), which carries a minimum-mandatory prison sentence of 5 years. Defendant posted an advertisement on Craig’s List expressing interest in meeting a woman for sex. An undercover responded to the advertisement and posed as a woman who was willing to engage in sex with him for money. They exchanged emails and text messages where the Defendant offered the undercover officer money in exchange for sex. The undercover instructed the Defendant to meet at an apartment complex for the exchange. When the Defendant arrived to the apartment complex, he was arrested. The Commonwealth indicted the Defendant and charged him in Superior Court with sex-trafficking. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan aggressively attacked the case by way of a Motion to Dismiss and a Motion to Suppress Evidence, which were unsuccessful. Because the Commonwealth was unwilling to reduce the sex-trafficking charge, Attorney Noonan prepared the case for trial, and was prepared to argue to the jury that the Defendant’s conduct amounted to the misdemeanor offense of sex-for-a-fee and his conduct did not constitute sex-trafficking. A final pretrial conference was scheduled in which the parties represented that they were ready for trial. Two-days before the trial, mindful that Attorney Noonan was ready, willing, and able to try the case, the Commonwealth offered to drop the sex-trafficking charge and have the Defendant pled guilty to the misdemeanor offense of sex-for-a-fee and give him probation for two years. Defendant accepted the deal. Sexual Conduct for a Fee (G.L. c. 272, §53A) is a misdemeanor offense, which does not carry any sex-offender registration requirements. Once the Defendant completes his probation, he is entitled to have this charge automatically sealed from his record.
Commonwealth v. John Doe – Plymouth District Court
ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN WINS NOT GUILTY VERDICT IN LARCENY TRIAL WHERE THE DEFENDANT WAS ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING AN INVESTOR OF $10,000 AND 10% OWNERSHIP IN HIS COMPANY.
Defendant and a business partner owned a business and they each owned a 50% share of the business. It was alleged that there was a meeting with the Defendant, his business partner, and an employee where the employee offered to invest $10,000 in the business in exchange for a 10% ownership interest in the business and that Defendant would refund his $10,000 within one calendar year. It was alleged that the Defendant took the $10,000 for personal use and never put any of the money into the business. It was also alleged that the Defendant never paid back the $10,000 to the employee. Defendant was charged with the felony offense of Larceny over $1,200 by False Pretense pursuant to G.L. c. 266, §30. As a result of the charges, Defendant lost his job as a firefighter and EMT. At the trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan argued that there was no fraudulent inducement by the Defendant because it was the victim who offered to invest the money in the business. Attorney Noonan argued that this not a criminal case by any stretch of the imagination, and there was a civil dispute amongst business owners and an employee. Defendant’s 50/50 business partner testified against him at trial. Attorney Noonan argued that the business partner was equally liable because he was a 50/50 partner, owned 50% of the business, was part of this business deal, and approved the deal. The 50/50 partner had the authority to make good on any debts or liabilities of the business. Defendant did not enter into this transaction personally, but on behalf of the business. The defendant was found not guilty and the charge was sealed from his record.
Commonwealth v. John Doe
FELONY OFFENSE OF OBTAINING DRUGS BY FRAUD AGAINST STATE EMPLOYEE DISMISSED.
Defendant has been employed for a state governmental agency. Her ex-boyfriend accused her of picking up his prescription medication at the pharmacy by fraud. The victim went to the CVS pharmacy to pick up his prescription medication where he was told that his prescription had already been picked up. The victim suspected the Defendant. Police obtained surveillance video of the suspect picking up the medication. The victim was not 100% certain that the person in the video was the Defendant. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan filed a Motion to Suppress evidence, in which he sought to preclude the victim from testifying at trial that the suspect in the video was the Defendant. After reviewing the Motion to Suppress, the prosecution agreed that this identification testimony should not be introduced at trial. Without any positive identification of the Defendant as the suspect, Attorney Noonan proceeded to trial. On the day of trial, with the victim present to testify, the Commonwealth offered us a sweetheart deal where the charge would be dismissed after 12 months, resulting in a straight dismissal, with no admission to any wrongdoing by our client. The charge will be dismissed and the Defendant’s employment will not be affected.
Commonwealth v. John Doe – North Hampton District Court
ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN VACATES CONVICTION FOR CARRYING A LOADED SHOTGUN IN A MOTOR VEHICLE. CASE DISMISSED.
In the 1980s, Defendant went hunting with a friend. A wildlife / environmental police officer observed the Defendant holding a shotgun, while sitting in the passenger seat of a moving vehicle. The vehicle was stopped. The officer observed that the Defendant had a shotgun in the passenger seat with him. The officer removed the shotgun, which was loaded, and cleared the ammunition from the shotgun. Defendant was charged with Loaded Shotgun in Automobile (G.L. c. 131, §63). Defendant pled guilty and was issued a fine. Defendant applied for a license to carry firearms, which was denied because of a conviction for a firearms offense. With a firearms conviction, Defendant would be federally prohibited from purchasing a firearm. The client contacted Attorney Patrick J. Noonan to vacate the conviction so he would no longer be prohibited from obtaining a firearms license or purchasing a firearm. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was able to convince the judge to throw out the conviction. Defendant is no longer disqualified from possessing an LTC, or purchasing a firearm.
Commonwealth v. John Doe – Boston Municipal Court
CHARGES OF STRANGULATION AND ASSAULT & BATTERY AGAINST COLLEGE STUDENT DISMISSED.
My Defendant is a college student. He lived with three college roommates in an off-campus apartment. One of his roommates called 911 and reported that the Defendant physically assaulted him and placed him in a chokehold. Defendant denied the allegations. Defendant was charged with Strangulation (G.L. c. 265, §15D) and Assault & Battery (G.L. c. 265, §13A). The client and his parents hired Attorney Patrick J. Noonan, who immediately moved to dismiss the Strangulation charge for insufficient evidence, as there was no evidence to support the essential elements of the offense, and there was no statement by the victim that the Defendant applied substantial pressure to his neck which interfered with the normal course of his breathing. The prosecution, to their immense credit, reviewed Attorney Noonan’s Motion to Dismiss and agreed to drop the Strangulation charge. Attorney Noonan prepared for trial on the remaining Assault & Battery and provided the prosecution with statements from the two other roommates who were present for the altercation. The witness statements were highly exculpatory and undermined the government’s case. After producing these witness statements, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss the case outright, after 6 months.