Result

THE NOONAN DEFENSE TEAM CONVINCES THE PROSECUTION TO DROP CHARGES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, KIDNAPPING, ASSAULT & BATTERY, AND STRANGULATION AGAINST EVERETT MAN FACING POTENTIAL LIFE SENTENCE

Defendant was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on the charges of: Trafficking of a Person under 18 for Sexual Servitude, (G.L. c. 265, § 50), Kidnapping (G.L. c. 265, § 26), multiple counts of Strangulation or Suffocation (G.L. c. 265, § 15D), and multiple counts of Assault and Battery (G.L. c. 265, § 13A). The Sex Trafficking charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years in State Prison. If convicted on all charges, the Defendant was facing a serious prison sentence.

Defendant was a 21 year-old man, with no criminal record, who lived with his parents and three siblings in Everett and he worked as a grocery delivery driver. He was in a dating relationship with the alleged victim (“A.V.”) who was 17 years-old at the time they met. In November 5, 2018, A.V. reported to police that she had been beaten by the Defendant on 11.01.18. Police photographed injuries to her face, neck, arms, and body. A.V. told police that the Defendant kidnapped her on 11.01.18 in his vehicle and he put on the child safety locks so he couldn’t escape. She claimed that the Defendant, and his friend, drove to an area where the Defendant choked her and beat her. After the alleged kidnapping, A.V. got out of the Defendant’s car and walked to her apartment in Medford.

A.V. went on to state that the Defendant force her into prostitution. She claimed that the Defendant created an online dating profile for her and forced her to go out of dates with men, have sex with men for money, and to rob the men. She went on to describe a history of the Defendant physically abusing, choking, and beating her.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan immediately began a thorough investigation and his Defense Team discovered exculpatory evidence which was used to convince the prosecution to drop the case. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan discovered that A.V. committed perjury and lied under oath when she falsely claimed that was pregnant at the time the Defendant had allegedly beaten her. She claimed that she lost the baby as a result of the Defendant’s assault. The Defense Team found that A.V. was never pregnant. Because of this huge lie, A.V. had a Fifth Amendment issue if she were to testify at trial, which meant that: if A.V. testified at trial, she would incriminate herself by admitting that she lied about being pregnant. A.V. exercised her Fifth Amendment privilege and elected not to testify at trial. Without A.V.’s testimony, the Commonwealth had to drop the charges. The Defense Team discovered other evidence favorable to the defense. The Defense Team discovered that A.V.’s apartment building had video cameras, which would have shown A.V. returning home after she was allegedly kidnapped and beaten by the Defendant. The Defense believed that the video would have shown A.V. walking to her apartment with no signs that she had been kidnapped or beaten. We discovered that this video existed but the Commonwealth failed to obtain it. Next, A.V. had to provide her cell phone to police. The prosecution provided the Defense with an Extraction Report of the date on A.V.’s phone. However, A.V. deleted a substantial amount of data from her phone prior to handing it over to police. The Defense Team had an expert who was prepared to recover all the content that A.V. had deleted from her phone. Next, the Defense Team consulted with an expert medical doctor who reviewed the photographs of the injuries to A.V.’s face. The expert was of the opinion that the markings to A.V.’s face were not consistent with her account that the Defendant had punched her repeatedly in the face. If the Defendant repeated punched A.V. in the face, there would be obvious signs of swelling but there was no swelling. The photos of the face did not have the appearance of trauma inflicted injuries. The photos of the face and eyes showed skin discoloration, which could have been from simple skin irritation, not trauma. Next, the Defense Team filed a motion seeking a court order of A.V.’s online dating profile, as the Defense Team believed that the records would show that A.V. was already using this online dating service prior to even meeting the Defendant. Lastly, the Defense Team presented evidence that A.V. had a motive to falsely accuse the Defendant. Defendant had broken up with A.V. and blocked her from every source, such as cell phone and social media. A.V. couldn’t accept the fact that the Defendant had broken up with her. A.V. contacted the Defendant and threatened to commit suicide if the Defendant did not answer her calls or take her back as his girlfriend. A.V. was so desperate to remain in a relationship with the Defendant that she lied about being pregnant. The Defense obtained a text message that A.V.’s mother sent to the Defendant’s mother, which A.V.’s mother sent prior to A.V. calling the police. In the text, A.V.’s mother states that they will not go to the police if the Defendant makes up with A.V. and takes her back. Based on all the evidence obtained as a result of the Noonan Defense Team’s investigation, the prosecution dropped all charges.

DEFENDANT CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT & BATTERY AFTER WIFE CALLS 911 AND TELLS POLICE THAT HER HUSBAND HIT HER, BROKE HER ARM, AND POLICE TOOK PHOTOS OF SWELLING AND BRUISING TO HER ARM, BUT ATTORNEY GERALD J. NOONAN GETS CASE DISMISSED AT TRIAL

Easton Police received a 911 call from the Defendant’s wife who reported that her husband just hit her and she wanted him out of the house as soon as possible. She told the 911 operator that her arm was broken and swollen. Upon arrival, police observed that the wife’s arm was swollen. Color photographs taken by police show swelling and bruising to the wife’s arm. At the scene, the wife told police that the Defendant struck her in the face and grabbed her by the arm. Police arrested the Defendant for Assault and Battery on a Family / Household Member (G.L. c. 265, §13M). After his arrest, the wife obtained a restraining order against the Defendant.

Result: At trial, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan was ready to exclude the 911 tape from coming into evidence on the grounds that the audio recording of the wife’s call did not meet the rules of evidence. Prior to trial, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan placed the prosecutor on notice that he was going into introduce evidence of prior instances of violence initiated by the wife where the wife had punched the Defendant on six prior occasions. Attorney Noonan sought to introduce evidence that his client acted in self-defense because his wife attacked him during this incident. Attorney Noonan sought to introduce an incriminating statement made by the wife to police where she admitted to poking the Defendant, evidence showing that she initiated a physical confrontation. Finally, Attorney sought to introduce conflicting and inconsistent statements made by the wife where she could not recall who initiated the first strike, she could not recall how she received the injury to her arm, and she claimed that the Defendant struck her in the face despite the fact that police found no marks to her face that would corroborate that allegation. At trial, the wife invoked her marital privilege not to testify against her husband. The Commonwealth elected not to proceed with the trial without the wife’s testimony.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEEKS TO JAIL THE DEFENDANT FOR 60 DAYS FOR VIOLATING CONDITIONS OF HIS RELEASE BUT ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN PRESENTS EVIDENCE THAT THE VIOLATIONS WERE TRIGGERED BY ERRORS IN PAPERWORK

Defendant was arraigned in the Brockton Superior Court on charges of Trafficking in Cocaine (G.L. c. 94C, §32E(b)), Possession with Intent to Distribute Class D-Marijuana (G.L. c. 94C, §32C), and Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B-Oxycodone). He was released on a $10,000 cash bail with the following conditions: GPS monitoring with a curfew of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Commonwealth sought to jail the Defendant for 60 days for violating his curfew on four separate occasions by not returning home by 8:00 p.m. Defendant was arrested on a warrant and contacted Attorney Patrick J. Noonan.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan reviewed all the paperwork and records and he discovered that the GPS Company was wrongly reporting violations due to errors and miscommunications. Whenever the Defendant violated curfew, the GPS Company would send a notification to probation that there was a violation. Defendant’s original curfew ended at 8:00 p.m. but Attorney Noonan found that the curfew was extended to 9:00 p.m. but the new curfew time was not reported to the GPS Company. Each time the Defendant returned home after 8:00 p.m., the GPS Company reported a violation. However, on each occasion, the Defendant arrived home before 9:00 p.m., which was not a violation. Attorney Noonan brought the error to the Judge’s attention. The Judge did not find the Defendant in violation and the Defendant was released from jail.

AFTER AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING IN WHICH THE POLICE AND THE DEFENDANT TESTIFIED, ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN OBTAINS COURT ORDER TO SEAL THE CRIMINAL RECORD OF A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL WORKER

Defendant, a Lakeville resident, is a highly educated professional who spent a career devoted to the service of children and families suffering from issues relating to mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and disabilities. She had no criminal record until an unfortunate incident in 2010 when her husband called the police to report that he had been physically assaulted by the Defendant. The husband told police that the Defendant was upset with him and slapped him across the face. The husband showed police marks to his face, which included a red mark, swelling, and bruising. Based on the husband’s allegation of a physical assault, and coupled with his visible injuries, police arrested and charged the Defendant with Assault and Battery under G.L. c. 265, §13A.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan filed a motion and petition to seal his client’s criminal record under the record sealing statutes specifically, G.L. c. 276, 100C. At a hearing, Attorney Noonan called a police officer who testified about a false report the husband had previously filed against the Defendant where he falsely accused her assault and was denied a restraining order against her. About one-month before the assault and battery incident, the husband went to the police station to report that the Defendant had assaulted him. The husband told this officer that he wanted to obtain full custody of their children. The husband further stated that his attorney advised him to get his wife to push him in front of the kids so that he may obtain full custody of them. The husband stated that he attempted to have his wife assault him in front of the kids but he was unsuccessful. The husband requested a restraining order against his wife in order to get custody of his kids but his first request for a restraining order was denied for lack of evidence. Attorney Noonan argued that the Assault & Battery charge, which resulted in his client’s arrest, was the result of another false allegation by the husband who was motivated to get custody of the kids and was willing to go to extreme lengths to get custody, which included a false allegation of abuse. Attorney Noonan introduced pleadings from the divorce case where the husband tried using the Assault and Battery case as leverage to gain custody of the children. Attorney Noonan has his client testify about how the existence of the criminal record has adversely affected her life. Evidence was introduced about how the criminal record affected her ability to obtain employment. In one instance, she was overly qualified for a position and she was recommended for the position after a serious of interviews but she was later denied the position after a criminal background check revealed the Assault and Battery. After hearing all the evidence, the Judge ordered the sealing of the criminal record. Now, the Defendant can truthfully state on a job application that she has never been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime.

LARCENY CHARGE FOR SHOPLIFTING FROM THE SAME STORE ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS WILL BE DISMISSED IN ONE-YEAR, SO LONG AS THE DEFENDANT STAYS OUT OF TROUBLE, RESULTING IN NO CONVICTION OR ADMISSION TO ANY WRONGDOING

Burlington Police were dispatched to the Chico’s department store in the Burlington Mall for a past theft. The Manager of the store reported that a former employee was shoplifting from the store when she was working there. The manager stated that the former employee and her sister (the defendant) had shoplifted from the store on at least 6 occasions. The manager provided police with receipts totaling $683 of stolen merchandise. The manager believes that they shoplifted much more but he only had evidence of the 6 thefts. Police obtained store surveillance video footage showing the defendant and her sister taking items from the store without paying for them.

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan persuades the District Attorney’s Office and the Department Store to accept his proposal of Pretrial Probation for a period of one year with conditions to pay restitution and stay away from the store. The client has already paid the restitution. So long as the client stays out of trouble and stays away from the store, the case will be dismissed. Her criminal record will reflect that the charge was dismissed, there was no conviction, and she did not admit to any wrongdoing.

THREATS TO COMMIT A MASS SHOOTING DISMISSED AT TRIAL, AS THE NOONAN DEFENSE TEAM INTERVIEWED THE ALLEGED VICTIM WHO STATED THAT SHE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE DEFENDANT’S STATEMENT WAS A LEGITIMATE THREAT AND SHE MADE EXCULPATORY STATEMENTS TO THE DEFENSE, WHICH WERE NOT CONTAINED IN THE POLICE REPORT.

Defendant was a Loss Prevention Officer at a department store in the Braintree Mall. Defendant resigned from the store after getting a new job. The Store Manager reported to the police that the Defendant made disturbing comments to a female employee. The police interviewed the female employee who stated that she had a disturbing conversation with the Defendant in October, after the Las Vegas mass shooting. She told police that the Defendant approached her and stated: “How would you like it if I came in here and started shooting everyone? Would that make you afraid?” She told police that the Defendant threatened to shoot her in the mass shooting because she would be caught in the gunfire. She told police that the statements made her nervous and afraid. Based on the female employee’s statements to police, Defendant was charged with Threats to Commit a Crime (G.L. c. 275, §2), the threat being to commit a mass shooting. Given the nature of the threat involving a mass shooting, the case was taken very seriously by law enforcement given the history of mass shootings in the United States, including the Las Vegas shooting, the Parkland shooting, the Virginia Tech shooting, the Sandy Hook shooting, and the more recent shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.

Result: In preparing for trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan had his private investigator interview the female employee (i.e., the alleged victim). The female employee gave a much different story to the defense. Her statements to the defense were much different than what was portrayed in the police report. She told the defense that the Defendant approached her work station. She described the Defendant’s demeanor as joking and laughing. She stated that it was a casual conversation and the Defendant did not appear upset or angry. She stated that she did not believe that the Defendant’s statement was meant to be taken as a legitimate threat. She did not call 911 or report it to police. She mentioned it to another co-worker and it was this co-worker who suggested that she report it to management. It was only after the co-worker made this suggestion that she reported it to management. She did not think that her report to management would result in any criminal charges. In fact, she felt bad that the Defendant was charged. Even though the Defendant’s statement was made in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting in October, the incident was not immediately reported to police. The department store decided to report the incident to law enforcement the day after the Parkland Shooting. Based on the statements by the female employee to the defense team, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed the charge at trial.

ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN WINS NOT GUILTY IN 2ND OFFENSE OUI-LIQUOR CASE AFTER CONVINCING THE JUDGE THAT THE COMMONWEALTH FAILED TO PROVE THAT THE DEFENDANT WAS INTOXICATED

Stoughton Police were dispatched to a parking lot at approximately 3:00 a.m. for a report of an unconscious male passed out in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle. The officer approached the Defendant’s vehicle and observed him to be passed out behind the wheel. The officer knocked on the window several times but the Defendant did not respond. After knocking several times, the Defendant finally woke up. In waking up, the Defendant was disoriented and immediately started to place his hand on the gear shift. The officer instructed the Defendant to step out of the vehicle. Defendant was unsteady on his feet. The officer stated that the Defendant was unable to give any answers or responses to the officer’s questions. The officer had to repeat his questions several times before getting a response from the Defendant. The Defendant spoke slowly and deliberately. He stated that he was at Club Alex’s in Stoughton. Because the Defendant was parked in the parking lot of an apartment complex, the officer asked the Defendant if he was visiting a friend. Defendant stated that he was visiting a friend but he was unable to provide any name to the officer. The Defendant stated the word “Uber” and started flipping through his phone to call an Uber but he did not have the Uber application on his phone. In his police report, the officer states that there was a cup of alcohol in the cup holder. The officer formed the opinion that the Defendant was under the influence of alcohol. Because the Defendant had previously convicted of OUI, he was charged with Operating under the Influence of Alcohol (second offense). See G.L. c. 90, §24.

Result: At trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan pointed out the stark differences in the arresting officer’s testimony verses the booking officer’s testimony. The booking officer had over 20 years of experience in law enforcement. Even though the booking officer had booked the Defendant for over one-hour, the booking officer did not observe the telltale signs of intoxication. For example, the booking officer did not observe: that the Defendant had glassy or bloodshot eyes, that the Defendant had slurred speech, or that the Defendant had an odor of alcohol on his breath. Attorney Noonan pointed out that none of the officers had asked the Defendant if he had any physical or medical conditions. The observations of alleged intoxication could have been the result of a physical or medical condition, and not from the consumption of any alcohol. None of the officers had ever asked the Defendant if he had consumed any alcohol. The Commonwealth introduced the booking video at trial. The Commonwealth argued that the Defendant appeared intoxicated on the video, and pointed out a portion of the video where the Defendant lost his balance and stumbled backwards. However, Attorney Noonan highlighted other parts of the booking video where the Defendant appeared sober, such as portions of the video where the Defendant was walking, standing, and had no difficulty standing for his booking photo or standing when being fingerprinted. After the trial, the Judge found the Defendant not guilty. Because this was a second offense OUI, Defendant’s driver’s license was suspended for two years. However, Attorney Noonan obtained a Court Order restoring the Defendant’s driver’s license.

RANDOLPH DRUG DEALER FOUND NOT GUILTY IN FATAL OVERDOSE AFTER THE NOONAN DEFENSE TEAM CONVINCES JURY THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT THEIR CLIENT SOLD THE DRUGS THAT CAUSED THE VICTIM’S OVERDOSE DEATH

The Commonwealth alleged that the Defendant sold Heroin and Fentanyl to a Stoughton man who then took the drugs and died of an overdose. The Commonwealth charged the Defendant with 2 counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl for allegedly selling the drugs that killed the overdose victim. After an investigation, the Commonwealth charged the Defendant with 2 additional counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl. On September 1, 2016, Stoughton Police were called to the residence of the male victim who they found dead on the floor of an apparent drug overdose. Police found drugs on the male victim. Police found a rolled up $20 bill with brown powder on the tip of it, which tested positive for Heroin and Fentanyl. Police also found a folded up lottery ticket, which contained a powdery substance that tested positive for Heroin and Fentanyl. The police searched the victim’s phone and saw text messages between the victim and the Defendant from the night before where they both agreed to meet each other. Police then began to text the Defendant from the victim’s phone and, posing as the victim, police set up a drug transaction with the Defendant. When the Defendant showed up for the drug deal, police arrested him and found a folded lottery ticket containing Heroin and Fentanyl, which resulted in the two additional counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl.

Result:

The Noonan Defense Team attacked the government’s case that the Defendant sold the Heroin and Fentanyl to the male victim, which caused his fatal overdose. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan got the lead investigator to admit on cross-examination that he did have any evidence that the Defendant met with the male victim or distributed the drugs that killed him. Attorney Noonan attacked the government’s handling of the male victim’s cell phone. The police searched the victim’s phone and generated an Extraction Report of the data on the phone. For some strange reason, the extraction report only contained one-month of data on the victim’s phone. Attorney Noonan pointed out that the software used by police had a default setting, which automatically extracted all available data on the phone, but the government only produced one-month of data, which begged the question: What happened to all the other data? There were 1,500 contacts on the phone but only one-month of data. Attorney Noonan introduced the entirety of the call logs and text messages on the victim’s phone to show that there was no evidence of any drug transactions with the Defendant, or even a discussion about drugs. Attorney Noonan introduced a text message in which an identified contact offered to provide drugs to the victim. Attorney Noonan highlighted all the people that the victim had been in communication with on the night in question and any of these people could have been the person who provided the drugs to the victim, but those persons were not investigated. The prosecution argued that the Defendant sold the drugs to the victim because the drugs found in the victim’s possession were packaged in a lottery ticket, and when police arrested the Defendant they found drugs packaged in a lottery ticket. However, Attorney Noonan introduced text messages on the victim’s phone showing that the victim was a regular purchaser of lottery tickets, and the victim was talking about picking up lottery tickets a few days before his overdose. Attorney Noonan presented evidence showing that the victim could have been the seller of the drugs that were found on his person. Lastly, Attorney Noonan argued that this was a rushed investigation where the police started with a conclusion (that the Defendant was the drug dealer) and police only looked for evidence that would support their conclusion and ignored any evidence to the contrary.

Click on the Link for Enterprise News Coverage of the Case: “Randolph man acquitted in fatal Stoughton overdose, but guilty of possession.”

ATTORNEY GERALD J. NOONAN GETS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGE AGAINST DEFENDANT FOR ASSAULTING HIS 17 YEAR-OLD SON DISMISSED AND CHARGE OF ASSAULT & BATTERY ON A POLICE OFFICER TO BE DISMISSED IN ONE-YEAR RESULTING IN NO CONVICTION OR ADMISSION TO ANY WRONGDOING BY THE DEFENDANT

Sandwich Police were called to the Defendant’s residence for a report of a domestic dispute between two parents and their four children. Two of the children called 911 to report that their parents were out of control. Upon arrival, policed heard yelling and screaming coming from inside the home. Defendant’s wife was yelling and screaming at police that they were not allowed inside their residence and she was described as being highly volatile. Police instructed the Defendant to sit down in a chair. However, Defendant began to yell at his daughter and proceeded to stand up when a police officer shined his flashlight into the Defendant’s eyes to distract him. In response, the Defendant swung his right arm and knocked the flashlight out of the officer’s hands, causing the flashlight to spin in the air. Officers forced the Defendant back into his chair and handcuffed him. Police spoke to the Defendant’s 17 year-old son who reported that the Defendant got right into his face, yelled at him, “Do you want me to beat you?” and pushed his son into the couch. The other son corroborated that the Defendant stated, “Do you want me to beat you?” Defendant was charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer (G.L. c. 265, §13D) and Assault and Battery on a Family / Household Member (G.L. c. 265, §13M).

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan had the 17 year-old son (the victim of the assault and battery) interviewed. The son stated that he was enlisting in the military and he had no desire to testify against his father. Attorney Noonan informed the Commonwealth that the son had no desire to testify against his client and would most likely be unavailable at trial due to his military service. Attorney Noonan placed the Commonwealth on notice that his client acted in self-defense in knocking the flashlight out of the officer’s hands to defend himself against the strong and intense beam of light that was shined directly into his eyes, which could cause temporary blindness or other injury. Attorney Noonan was prepared to file a motion for discovery to obtain the make and model of the police officer’s flashlight to establish the strength of the beam of light. For example, one particular police flashlight has an LED beam so strong that it can blast the distance of four football fields. Another particular police flashlight has a super bright beam of 425 lumens reaching 352 yards, and another model has 700 lumens. Attorney Noonan persuades the District Attorney to dismiss the domestic violence charge. For the Assault and Battery on a Police Officer charge, the prosecutor offered the Defendant Pretrial Probation for one-year with the condition to undergo anger management counseling. If the Defendant complies with probation, the charge will be dismissed. This is a good disposition because the Defendant is not required to admit that he committed the offense or admit to any wrongdoing and his record will reflect that the charge was dismissed with no conviction or adverse finding.

LARCENY CHARGE AGAINST CANTON MAN FOR STEALING $35,000 FROM HIS EMPLOYER ARE DISMISSED AT TRIAL, AS ATTORNEY PATRICK J. NOONAN ARGUED THAT THE COMMONWEALTH COULD NOT PROVE WHO HAD STOLEN THE MONEY

Defendant worked for a business in Stoughton. It was alleged that the Defendant took manual checks issued to fictitious employees and physically deposited those checks into a bank account. It was further alleged that the Defendant took checks issued to fictitious employees and electronically deposited them into a bank account. The Commonwealth intended to call the Regional Director of the business who discovered the fraudulent transactions and conducted his own investigation which, in his opinion, concluded that the Defendant had stolen the funds. The Regional Director’s investigation claimed that the Defendant had stolen approximately $35,000 from the employer. Defendant was alleged to have stolen $20,000 from a past employer but he was found not guilty of those charges. The Defendant had 24 entries on his criminal record.

Result: At trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was prepared to argue that the Commonwealth could not prove its case because they failed to subpoena the bank records where the stolen checks had been deposited into. Without the bank records, the Commonwealth could not prove whose bank account the stolen funds were sent – or if the stolen funds were deposited into the Defendant’s bank account. The Commonwealth did not obtain any surveillance video from the bank showing the person who was depositing the checks. Moreover, the employer did not produce any video footage of the Defendant taking the stolen the checks and leaving the store with them. The District Attorney’s Office was prepared to request another trial date, so they could subpoena the bank records. However, Attorney Noonan brokered a deal where the Commonwealth would dismiss the charge upon his client’s payment of $10,000 in restitution. The client paid the restitution and the charge was dismissed.