Violent Crimes
Commonwealth v. J.F. – Hingham District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED at TRIAL
Client, 55 year-old substance abuse counselor, charged with Assault and Battery stemming from a domestic dispute in which she allegedly attacked her husband, scratching his ear, elbow and wrist. The Commonwealth had photographs showing the husband’s injuries, which included scratch marks and blood on his face. At trial, the husband asserted his marital privilege not to testify against his wife, Defendant. At that point, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan moved to dismiss the case arguing that the Commonwealth had insufficient evidence to proceed absent the husband’s testimony.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan gets domestic violence charge dismissed outright against substance abuse counselor.
Commonwealth v. S.B. – Wareham District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED at TRIAL
Client, 57 year-old businessman, charged with Assault and Battery stemming from a domestic dispute in which he allegedly grabbed his wife by the throat, strangled her, and head-butted her in the left eye. At trial, wife asserted her marital privilege not to testify against her husband, Defendant. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan excluded the 911 call on evidentiary grounds leaving the Commonwealth with insufficient evidence to proceed.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan gets domestic violence charge dismissed outright at trial.
Commonwealth v. T.W. – Plymouth District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT
MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT
Client, 35-year government contractor and father of four children, charged with Assault & Battery and Malicious Destruction of Property stemming from an altercation in which the Defendant allegedly punched another man with a closed fist during an argument and damaged the windshield of the victim’s vehicle. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was successful in getting the charges dismissed prior to arraignment to preserve the client’s criminal record.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan gets all criminal charges dismissed prior to arraignment saving his client from having any charges entered on his record saving client’s job, as his occupation requires government clearance.
Commonwealth v. I.W. Brockton District Court
ASSAULT and BATTERY: PRETRIAL PROBATION
An identified caller contacted police and reported that she observed the Defendant and a woman inside a car in a parking lot. The civilian witness reported that she observed the Defendant pull the alleged victim’s hair and grab her arm in an attempt to prevent her from leaving the vehicle. The Defendant admitted to grabbing the alleged victim’s arm. The alleged victim reported that the Defendant did grab her arm as she was attempting to exit the vehicle. Attorney Gerald J. Noonan successfully obtained an excellent disposition for his client known as pretrial probation. Specifically, the case would be dismissed in six-month provided that the Defendant not commit any new crime.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets domestic violence charge dismissed against college student and saves his client from possible deportation from the U.S.
Commonwealth v. A.W. – Fall River District Court
WITNESS INTIMIDATION: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT
THREATS TO COMMIT A CRIME: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT
Client, 28 year-old Captain in the U.S. Army, was charged with intimidation of a witness (felony) and threats to commit a crime stemming from allegations that he threatened a witness, who was a victim in an unrelated case. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan was successful in getting the case dismissed prior to arraignment, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to identify the Defendant as the perpetrator. The formal institution of criminal charges on the client’s record would have seriously affected his military career.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan gets criminal charges dismissed prior to arraignment and no charges were entered on his client’s record, a Captain in the US Army.
Commonwealth v. T.M. – Brockton District Court
ASSAULT and BATTERY: DISMISSED
THREATS TO COMMIT CRIME: DISMISSED
The alleged victim went to the Brockton Police Station to report that her boyfriend (Defendant) and father of her two children assaulted her by hitting her on the left side of her face. After the assault, the alleged victim went to her parents’ home with her two children. The alleged victim reported that the Defendant called her and made threatening statements to her on the cell phone. She reported that the Defendant stated that he had a knife and unless she wanted someone to get hurt she should go with him.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan dismisses all charges due to the fact that the alleged victim asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in court.
Commonwealth v. J.W. – New Bedford District Court
THREATS TO COMMIT ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED
Alleged Victim #1 is the mother of the Defendant’s child. She told police that the Defendant that the Defendant came over to pick his son for a visit and instigated a fight with her husband and threatened to kick his ass. The husband (Alleged Victim #2) stated that the Defendant jumped out of his truck, threw his coat on the ground, and began shouting expletives at him. The Defendant also threatened to “light him up” and goaded him by saying, “Make my day.” Defendant refused the leave the property until they called the police. Later in the day, the alleged victim and her husband went to the Defendant’s house to pick up the son. She stated that the Defendant attacked her husband in the driveway by grabbing him, putting him over the trunk of the car, and repeatedly struck him in the face until the Defendant’s mother pulled him off. Police observed fresh scratches and red marks to the face of the husband, Alleged Victim #2. Police observed that Alleged Victim #2’s clothing was disheveled. Alleged Victim #2 stated that the Defendant grabbed him by the face and threw him into his car and assaulted him until the Defendant’s mother pulled him off. Alleged Victim #1 obtained an emergency restraining stating that there has been a history of threatening behavior by the Defendant. At a clerk-magistrate hearing, Attorney Gerald J. Noonan presented testimony of witnesses to the incident showing that the Defendant acted in self-defense. The mother and brother of the Defendant testified that the Defendant acted in self-defense when Alleged Victim #2 clenched his fist and raised it at the Defendant. The Defendant, in response, grabbed Alleged Victim #2 and placed his chest against the trunk of the car. Witnesses testified that the Defendant never punched Alleged Victim #2. Defendant stated that he would not let the Alleged Victim go because he felt that the Alleged Victim might attack him. Testimony was presented that the Alleged Victim claimed some responsibility in the altercation by admitting that he had made some mistakes. Testimony was presented that the Defendant remained calm, cool, and collected when the police arrived. Lastly, Attorney Noonan presented evidence that there has been a history of animosity between the parties prior to this incident.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan persuades clerk-magistrate not to issue criminal complaint against electrician.
Commonwealth v. K.Z. – Stoughton District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY (on minor) DISMISSED
AB with DANGEROUS WEAPON (on minor) DISMISSED
Sharon Police were dispatched to a domestic dispute between the Defendant (father) and his 14 year-old son (alleged victim) who told police that his father hit him across the face with his open hands and then hit him a couple of times in the butt with a frying pan. Upon arrival, Police observed that the alleged victim was visibly shaken and sobbing. Police observed red marks on the alleged victim’s upper thigh and butt.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets aggravated felony charge dismissed outright.
Commonwealth v. C.F. – Quincy District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY DANGEROUS WEAPON: DISMISSED
MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: DISMISSED
Client, 20-year-old office worker, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property stemming from an incident in which she threatened the victim with an aluminum baseball bat and damaged the victim’s 2010 Mercedes with said aluminum baseball bat. Defendant chased the victim into his vehicle with the aluminum baseball bat. Once the victim got inside his vehicle, Defendant proceeded to smash his vehicle repeatedly with the baseball bat until the victim sped away. The 2010 Mercedes sustained property damage in excess of $9,000.00. At the Clerk’s Hearing, Attorney Patrick J. Noonan successfully argued that the Defendant was acting in self-defense. Specifically, Attorney Noonan presented evidence that the alleged victim was stalking and constantly harassing the Defendant through a chain of disturbing text messages and e-mails. The Clerk-Magistrate found that the alleged victim acted justifiably, as she was placed in imminent fear of bodily harm.
Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan gets felony charges dismissed against 20 year-old Defendant.
Commonwealth v. S.F. – Taunton District Court
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED upon MOTION
Defendant was charged with Assault & Battery upon the alleged victim stemming from an incident at a bar in Easton, Massachusetts in which the defendant allegedly punched the alleged victim in the face. A seasoned Easton police officer investigated the incident and interviewed the defendant and the alleged victim. The police officer determined that the defendant’s version of events at the bar was more credible than the alleged victim’s version. A clerk’s hearing was conducted on the criminal complaint against the defendant for Assault & Battery. At the clerk’s hearing, the magistrate decided not to issue any criminal complaint and advised the parties not to contact each other any further. The alleged victim was dissatisfied with the clerk’s decision and filed a private application for criminal complaint against the defendant for Assault & Battery for punching him in the face at the bar. Attorney Gerald J. Noonan filed a Motion to Dismiss. Attorney Noonan argued that the Easton Police did not find the alleged victim’s version of the events at the bar to be credible. Defendant’s version to police was that the alleged victim punched him in the face, not the other way around. Attorney Noonan argued that the alleged victim was filing this private criminal complaint in retaliation against the defendant because they had a contentious and hostile relationship as neighbors. Prior to the alleged incident in the bar, defendant contacted police and reported that the alleged victim (his neighbor) was spying on him and defendant’s wife with a video camera. Defendant also contacted police, prior to the incident at the bar, and reported that the defendant was posting signs on his property threatening the defendant and his wife. Attorney Noonan argued that the alleged victim was not credible and was abusing the court process by filing this private application for criminal complaint. Attorney Noonan introduced evidence that the alleged victim had 44 entries on his criminal record, mostly for violent offenses, such as: Stalking, Assault & Battery, and Violation of Restraining Orders. Conversely, Attorney Noonan presented evidence that his client had never been arrested or charged with a crime in his life.
Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan’s Motion to Dismiss the criminal complaint charging defendant with Assault & Battery was allowed, and the criminal complaint was dismissed.