2013
Commonwealth v. J.S. – Brockton District Court
ASSAULT and BATTERY: DISMISSED
Defendant was a reserve police officer for the Wareham Police Department. Defendant and his girlfriend were traveling on the highway together with the girlfriend driving when they began to argue. During the argument, Defendant became angry took her cell phone and threw it out the car window. Defendant admitted to police that he gave an open-handed back hand to his girlfriend’s right ear as she was driving. The girlfriend stated that the Defendant also threw pictures of her child out the car window, as she was driving. The girlfriend stated that the Defendant hit her in the face and head, as she was driving. Police observed that the girlfriend had a swollen right ear and a fresh abrasion and small cut behind the right ear. She also had a red mark under her left eye. Attorney Noonan filed a Motion to Dismiss and successfully dismissed the criminal complaint because there was evidence that the alleged victim had committed crimes during the course of the incident, which precluded her from testifying on Fifth Amendment grounds. Specifically, there was evidence that the alleged victim had slapped the Defendant in the face several times and punched him in the groin area during the altercation. Due to the alleged victim’s erratic behavior, the Defendant activated the emergency brake and ran out of the vehicle. Attorney Noonan presented an affidavit to the court from the alleged victim wherein she states that she intends to invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. In addition, the affidavit stated that she did not want any criminal charges to be lodged against her boyfriend and that they were undergoing counseling together to resolve their issues.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets domestic violence charge dismissed outright against police officer.
Commonwealth v. J.G. – Stoughton District Court
CARRYING FIREARM without LICENSE: DISMISSED upon MOTION
Police searched the Defendant’s home and found a Smith & Wesson 28 Special Revolver loaded with four rounds of ammunition. Defendant did not have any license to possess or carry firearms. In his Motion to Dismiss, Attorney Noonan argued that there is a “residency exemption” in the amended statute, which applies to those possessing a firearm while “present in or on his residence.” Citing case law, Attorney Noonan argued that the evidence showed that the Defendant possessed the firearm in his residence, which is not a crime, even though he did not have any gun license.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s Motion to Dismiss is allowed and he saves his client from serving a minimum mandatory jail sentence of 18 months.
Commonwealth v. S.W. – Brockton District Court
SEX FOR A FEE: DISMISSED
Client, 43-year-old computer engineer with no criminal record, was arrested and charged with Sexual Conduct for Fee stemming from an undercover vice operation in which the Defendant agreed to solicit sexual services from an undercover police officer. After six months of negotiation with the District Attorney’s Office, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan solidified an agreement with the Commonwealth to place the Defendant on pretrial probation for one-year, a considerable win because a conviction would have resulted in automatic termination from employment. Defendant is married with three children. He works as a top-ranked system’s specialist for the Department of Interior, a federal agency. The job requires certain government clearances.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan persuades the Commonwealth to place his client on pretrial probation for one-year at the conclusion of which the criminal charge will be dismissed, saving his client’s job because a continuance without a finding (CWOF) would have resulted in client’s termination from employment.
Commonwealth v. C.Q. – Taunton District Court
DRAG RACING: DISMISSED
A patrol officer observed two vehicles traveling south on Somerset Ave. in the town of Dighton and were speeding up, as they approached his police cruiser. Dighton Police stopped both vehicles and charged the parties with Drag Racing. Attorney Gerald J. Noonan filed a Motion to Dismiss arguing that there was insufficient probable cause to charge his client with Drag Racing under the statute. Specifically, he argued that there was no evidence that the Defendant “accelerated at a high rate of speed” or that the Defendant was “in competition with another operator.”
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets criminal charge dismissed outright against college student.
Commonwealth v. V.C. – Stoughton District Court
POSSESSION with INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE: DISMISSED
Client, 18-year-old male, was driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s license and was pulled over for speeding. Police searched the vehicle with the Defendant’s consent and recovered one packet of marijuana, six small packets of marijuana, twelve zip lock baggies, an empty vile, and two condoms. Defendant was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute (felony). Attorney Patrick J. Noonan sought production of the certificate of analysis for the alleged substance as well as access / inspection of the alleged substance. The Commonwealth was unable to locate the alleged substance and the Commonwealth was unable to confirm whether the alleged substance was sent to the crime lab for analysis.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan dismissed felony drug charge outright.
V.A. vs. R.B. – Taunton District Court
Docket No.: 1231 AC 0648
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED
The alleged victim was an employee and caretaker at a residential facility housing individuals with mental disorders. The Defendant is a mentally retarded and intellectually disabled resident of the facility. The alleged victim claimed that the Defendant attacked him punched him in the face, spat on him, knocked him to the ground, and punched him in the head. At the clerk magistrate’s hearing, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan examined an employee and caretaker at the facility who witnessed the incident between the alleged victim and the Defendant. Attorney Noonan elicited testimony from the witness who observed the alleged victim punching the Defendant, as he was being restrained face-down on the ground. This witness told the alleged victim to stop punching the Defendant but he continued punching the Defendant anyway. The clerk-magistrate dismissed the criminal complaint.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan persuades clerk-magistrate not to issue criminal complaint against his mentally disabled client.
Commonwealth v. J.C. – Salem District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY: NOLLE PROSS and RECORD SEALED
Client, 19-year-old Military Police Officer with no criminal record, was arrested and charged with Assault and Battery stemming from an allegation that he pushed and threw his girlfriend during a heated argument. After his arraignment, client retained Attorney Patrick J. Noonan. Prior to trial, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan informed the Commonwealth that his cross-examination of the alleged victim would incriminate her because she committed several crimes during the night of the alleged incident, including Assault and Battery, Malicious Destruction of Property, and others. At trial, the alleged victim opted not to testify. The Commonwealth nolle prossed the charge at trial. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan then filed a Motion to Seal the Assault and Battery charge from his client’s record arguing that the unsealed criminal charge would pose a specific harm to his client, as he is aspiring to become a Corrections Officer.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan dismisses the case outright and the Assault & Battery charge is permanently sealed from the client’s record.
Commonwealth v. W.B. – Wareham District Court
INDECENT EXPOSURE: DISMISSED
Client, 50-year-old warehouse supervisor, was charged with Indecent Exposure. An identified caller contacted the police to report a naked male party exposing himself while swimming in Charge Pond. The caller stated that the naked male party was flipping around in the water and putting on show for the other pond-goers. When the police officer arrived, he observed the Defendant’s genitals exposed, as he was lying on a floating chair in the water. At the arraignment, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan argued a Motion to Dismiss due to insufficient probable cause in the police report. Specifically, Attorney Noonan argued that none of the onlookers were “offended” by the Defendant’s exposure, which is a required element of the offense. Although the court denied Attorney Noonan’s Motion to Dismiss, the court acknowledged some of Attorney Noonan’s arguments and, as a result, recommended dismissing the charge upon the payment of nominal court costs.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan gets criminal charge dismissed on court costs at first court appearance.
Commonwealth v. D.B. – Brighton District Court
LARCENY (two counts) DISMISSED
Client, 19-year-old high school student, was charged with two counts of Larceny over $250 (felonies) stemming from incidents where he stole packages from the doorsteps of two residences in Brighton. After the arraignment, client hired Attorney Patrick J. Noonan, who persuaded the Commonwealth to place the Defendant on pretrial probation for six months because of his documented mental health disorders. At the conclusion of the six-month period, the charges will be dismissed.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan dismisses two felony charges outright.
Commonwealth v. C.C. – Dedham District Court
IDENTITY THEFT: DISMISSED on RESTITUTION
Client, 33-year-old single mother with no criminal record, was charged with Identity Theft stemming from allegations that she used her sister’s personal information to establish an account with Verizon. The victim claimed that the Defendant used her name and social security number to set up an account with Verizon.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan dismisses criminal charge outright upon the payment of $340 in restitution.