Drug Charges

Commonwealth v. N.B. – Brockton District Court

OUI DRUGS: DISMISSED w/ PREJUDICE
CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE DRUG LAW: DISMISSED w/ PREJUDICE
FAILURE TO STOP FOR POLICE: DISMISSED w/ PREJUDICE

Client, 55 year-old, professional van driver, was arrested and charged with OUI (drugs) and other charges stemming from an incident on February 16, 2012. A State Trooper observed the Defendant’s vehicle speeding in Brockton and attempted to pull him over for Speeding. A total of three state police cruisers pursued the Defendant’s vehicle in an effort to effectuate a motor vehicle stop. Eventually, one police cruiser boxed Defendant’s vehicle in. The state trooper removed Defendant from the driver’s seat. The Trooper detected a strong odor of alcohol on the Defendant and observed that the Defendant had urinated in his pants. Defendant’s speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. The Defendant admitted to consuming vodka or schnapps. Defendant stated that he ingested Xanax, Percocet, and Vicodin in combination with the vodka / schnapps. Police found syringes loaded with Heroin, burn spoons, glass pipes, and soaked cotton swabs in the vehicle. Defendant was administered and failed the HGN test, Hand Eye Coordination Test, Alphabet Test, One-Leg Stand, and Nine Step Walk and Turn. For 28 years, Defendant was employed as a professional van driver transporting elderly and disabled people. After his arrest, his employer laid him off and Defendant remained out of work during the pendency of his case. Defendant collected unemployment, went on assistance, and collected food stamps.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan dismissed all charges “with prejudice,” which means that the prosecution can never pursue the charges again, and the client is able to return to work.

Read More about Commonwealth v. N.B. – Brockton District Court

Commonwealth v. R.M. – Taunton District Court

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CRIME: DISMISSED

Police arrested three known drug dealers and obtained a search warrant to search the residence of the main drug dealer. Police discovered three cell phones in the residence, which were ringing non-stop and receiving text messages from potential drug buyers. Police answered the suspects’ phone and received requests to purchase drugs. Police arrested three individuals, including the Defendant, who made orders to purchase drugs on the telephone and arrived to the residence with money for the purchase. After Defendant’s arraignment, he retained Attorney Patrick J. Noonan.

Result: At his first court appearance, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan persuaded the Commonwealth to place his client on pretrial probation at the conclusion of which the criminal charge will be dismissed, and client avoids having to admit guilt.

Read More about Commonwealth v. R.M. – Taunton District Court

Commonwealth v. J.L. – Attleboro District Court

UTTERING FALSE PRESCRIPTION: DISMISSED upon MOTION
FORGERY: DISMISSED upon MOTION

Client, 47-year-old medical assistant with no prior criminal record, was arrested for uttering false prescription (felony) and forgery of a document (felony). Defendant was alleged to have filled large amounts of prescriptions for Percocet in other people’s names. Defendant confessed to police stating that she took blank prescription slips from her doctor and forged the prescriptions. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan filed a Motion Requesting Assignment to a Drug Treatment Facility pursuant to Chapter 111E. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan successfully moved the court to have his client placed into an outpatient drug treatment facility in lieu of criminal prosecution. Client successfully completed the drug treatment program.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan obtains outright dismissal of felony charges.

Read More about Commonwealth v. J.L. – Attleboro District Court

Commonwealth v. J.T. – Quincy District Court

POSSESSION CLASS B SUBSTANCE: DISMISSED

Client, 45 year-old laborer, was arrested for Possession of Class B Substance (cocaine) and Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws in connection with an undercover drug surveillance operation in Quincy. Undercover officers observed the co-defendant engage in a hand-to-hand transaction with another party. Undercover officers then conducted a stop of the co-defendant’s vehicle in which the Defendant was a passenger. Defendant admitted to having $20 worth of cocaine stuffed in his sock from the hand-to-hand transaction.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was able to dismiss all drug charges upon the payment of $200 in court costs.

Read More about Commonwealth v. J.T. – Quincy District Court

Commonwealth v. M.R. – Brockton Superior Court

DRUG DISTRIBUTION IN SCHOOL ZONE: DISMISSED upon MOTION

Client, 27 year-old male, was indicted on Distribution of Class B Substance (subsequent offense) and Distribution of Class B Substance in a School Zone. A Brockton Detective was conducting an undercover drug sting operation in which he arranged to purchase drugs from the Defendant. The Detective testified that he arranged to purchase two forties of hard crack cocaine from the Defendant. The Detective testified that the Defendant distributed the crack cocaine to the undercover officer within 300 feet of the Huntington School on Warren Avenue. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan argued a Motion to Dismiss under Commonwealth v. McCarthy arguing that there was insufficient probable cause presented to the Grand Jury that the drug transaction occurred within 300 feet of a school zone. The Superior Court Judge allowed Attorney Noonan’s Motion and the School Zone Indictment was dismissed.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s Motion to Dismiss is allowed and saves his client from a minimum mandatory jail sentence of 2 ½ years.

Read More about Commonwealth v. M.R. – Brockton Superior Court

Commonwealth v. K.M. – Attleboro District Court

DRUG OFFENSE: DISMISSED & SEALED FROM RECORD

Client, 22 year-old nursing student, was pulled over for a series of motor vehicle infractions. The officer immediately detected a strong odor of fresh marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found a small bag of marijuana in the cubbyhole of the passenger side door. The front seat passenger was issued a citation for possession of marijuana less than one ounce. Officers searched the Defendant’s purse and recovered Percocet. Client was charged with Possession of Class B Substance (Percocet). She was applying for nursing positions at hospitals. After arraignment on the drug charge, client retained Attorney Patrick J. Noonan.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan dismisses criminal charge outright and permanently seals the drug charge from his client’s record.

Read More about Commonwealth v. K.M. – Attleboro District Court

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.

Read More about Commonwealth v. V.C. – Stoughton District Court

Commonwealth v. S.W. – Wareham District Court

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA (THIRD OFFENSE): DISMISSED

Client, 24-year-old male, was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana (over one-ounce) stemming from a motor vehicle stop in Lakeville. This was the Defendant’s third offense for possession of marijuana. Police observed the Defendant’s vehicle parked on the side of the road on a quiet side street late at night with the interior light on and the headlights off. The officer approached the operator (defendant) and conducted a wellness check. The officer smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana in the vehicle. The officer observed a plastic container (with marijuana inside) and a digital scale in plain view. The officer searched the vehicle and found a large quantity of marijuana underneath the driver’s seat along with a glass pipe with marijuana residue. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan filed a Motion to Suppress challenging the lawfulness of the motor vehicle stop and the lawfulness of the officer’s exit order and search of the vehicle.

Result: On the day of the hearing, the Commonwealth dismisses the drug charge and decriminalized the offense to a civil infraction.

Read More about Commonwealth v. S.W. – Wareham District Court

Commonwealth v. A.S. – Wareham District Court

POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE: DISMISSED upon MOTION
POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE: DISMISSED upon MOTION

Defendant was alleged to have possessed Heroin and Oxycodone with the intent to distribute the illicit drugs. In his Motion to Dismiss, Attorney Noonan argued that there was insufficient evidence of an intent to distribute the drugs, as the Defendant did not possess any accoutrements or tools of the drug trade. Attorney Noonan argued that the evidence was more consistent with personal use, as opposed to distribution.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan’s Motion to Dismiss is allowed and both felony drug offenses are dismissed outright.

Read More about Commonwealth v. A.S. – Wareham District Court

Commonwealth v. B.C. – New Bedford District Court

UTTERING FALSE PRESCRIPTION: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT

Client, 31-year-old accountant, charged with Uttering a False Prescription (felony) stemming from an incident in which she doctored several counterfeit prescriptions of Adderall and attempted to pass them at pharmacies.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan got the criminal complaint dismissed prior to the arraignment saving his client from having a felony on her record.

Read More about Commonwealth v. B.C. – New Bedford District Court