Violent Crimes

Commonwealth v. N.W. – Attleboro District Court

ASSAULT & BATTERY ON PUBLIC OFFICIAL: PRETRIAL PROBATION
RESISTING ARREST: PRETRIAL PROBATION
DISORDERLY CONDUCT: PRETRIAL PROBATION
VANDALISM: PRETRIAL PROBATION

Client, sophomore at Wheaton College, was arrested by campus police stemming from an incident in which Defendant smashed a bathroom mirror in a dormitory during an argument with his girlfriend. Upon arrival, Defendant yelled profanities at the campus police. Defendant kicked one campus police officer three times. Defendant was placed under arrest at which point Defendant pushed a campus police officer and continually resisted arrest. After his arraignment, Defendant retained Attorney Patrick J. Noonan. The campus police and department of public safety refused to a proposal to place Defendant on pretrial probation. Wheaton College also revoked Defendant’s scholarship and permanently suspended him from the school. As a result, the Commonwealth only offered Defendant a continuance without a finding on the charges. Attorney Patrick met with school officials and the dean of students at Wheaton College in an effort to persuade them to place Defendant on pretrial probation. Attorney Noonan eventually persuaded Wheaton College, Campus Police, and the District Attorney’s Office to place Defendant on pretrial probation.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan persuades the government to place his client on pretrial probation for two-years at the conclusion of which all criminal charges will be dismissed outright, and client does not have to admit guilt. Client may report on job applications that he does not have any convictions.

Read More about Commonwealth v. N.W. – Attleboro District Court

Commonwealth v. J.G. – Dedham District Court

ASSAULT w/ DANGEROUS WEAPON: DISMISSED AT TRIAL
ASSAULT and BATTERY: DISMISSED AT TRIAL
THREAT TO COMMIT CRIME (MURDER) DISMISSED AT TRIAL
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION of FIREARM: DISMISSED AT TRIAL
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION of AMMUNITION: DISMISSED AT TRIAL

Defendant was arrested on allegations made against him by his ex-girlfriend of four years. She alleged that the Defendant choked her. She alleges a history of abuse, alleging that two-weeks prior to the incident Defendant choked her to the point that she had visible markings on her neck. She alleges that Defendant took out a black revolver and threatened to kill her with it. Police searched the Defendant’s home and found the black revolver (matching the alleged victim’s description) loaded with four rounds of ammunition. The alleged victim claims that the Defendant called her and threatened to kill her by slicing her throat. The alleged victim obtained an Abuse Prevention Order against the Defendant. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan conducted extensive discovery and amassed damaging evidence to impeach the alleged victim’s credibility at trial.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan obtains an outright dismissal of all criminal charges, which included violent offenses, a violent felony offense, and firearm offenses.

Read More about Commonwealth v. J.G. – Dedham District Court

Commonwealth v. M.R. – Attleboro District Court

ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT

Client, 49 year-old, father of three with no criminal record, was charged with Assault & Battery stemming from a domestic violence incident in which his wife called 911. Wife told police that the Defendant blew up and threw a fork almost striking their infant twin babies. Wife also reported that the Defendant grabbed her around the neck and threw her to the floor. Police observed red marks around the wife’s neck.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan obtains a dismissal prior to arraignment saving his client from having an Assault & Battery on his clean record, and client avoids termination from his employment.

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

Commonwealth v. A.W. – West Roxbury District Court

ASSAULT and BATTERY: DISMISSED / SEALED

Boston Police responded to a domestic disturbance in which the alleged victim reported that her boyfriend (Defendant) had punched her in the face and that he had possession of two firearms and a rifle. The alleged victim stated that the Defendant suffers from depression and had been drinking heavily all day. The alleged victim stated that the Defendant threatened her by saying, “If you don’t get out of the house I am going to shoot you” and the Defendant then punched her in the face. She then ran out of the house and called 911. Attorney Gerald J. Noonan successfully dismissed the case and sealed the criminal charge from his client’s record. This was a considerable victory given that the Defendant had no prior criminal record. He was educated in England and worked in the financial industry for years. The Defendant was seeking new employment in the financial field and the presence of the Assault and Battery charge on his record would have seriously prejudiced him getting hired.

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets domestic violence charge dismissed outright and permanently sealed against financial advisor.

Read More about Commonwealth v. A.W. – West Roxbury District Court

Commonwealth v. Jane Doe – Lowell Juvenile Court

A&B with DANGEROUS WEAPON: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT
ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A CRIME: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT
CONSPIRACY: DISMISSED PRIOR TO ARRAIGNMENT

Winchester Police were dispatched to the hospital in response to a past assault. The alleged victim reported that he had been walking to the bank to deposit some cash when he was attacked by two people wearing masks. The second attacker was wearing brass knuckles and punched the alleged victim in the side of the head while the other assailant held him down. The first attacker’s mask fell off and the alleged victim identified him but the second attacker with the brass knuckles was never identified. The alleged victim sustained many injuries as a result of the attack and robbery, which the police photographed, including a broken nose. Defendant was charged as being a joint venturer in the armed robbery.

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets criminal charges dismissed outright against Juvenile prior to arraignment saving his client from having these charges on her record.

Read More about Commonwealth v. Jane Doe – Lowell Juvenile Court

Commonwealth v. A.R. – Brockton District Court

ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED at TRIAL

Client, 27 year old bus driver with no criminal record, was arrested and charged with Assault & Battery stemming from an incident in which his wife alleged that he slapped her across the face in the presence of their two children. The wife reported another incident in which the Defendant attacked her but a family member intervened to prevent the assault. At trial, wife asserted her marital privilege not to testify against her husband. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan convinced the Commonwealth that they lacked enough independent evidence to proceed with the case, as the 911 tape was inadmissible and the family member witness was unavailable and lives in Haiti.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan obtains outright dismissal of domestic violence charge.

Read More about Commonwealth v. A.R. – Brockton District Court

Commonwealth v. C.L. – Brockton District Court

ATTEMPTED MURDER: DISMISSED
ASSAULT & BATTERY: DISMISSED
THREATS TO COMMIT MURDER: DISMISSED

Brockton Police were dispatched to a domestic violence call. The alleged victim stated that the Defendant was intoxicated and threw her to the bedroom floor and began to punch her in the face and head with a closed fist. She stated that the Defendant strangled her and she believes that she lost consciousness. The Defendant threatened to kill and the grandchild during the assault. The granddaughter witnessed the assault and called 911. Police observed that the house was in disarray with items strewn about. Police observed swelling to the face of the alleged and she was transported to the emergency room.

Result: Attorney Gerald J. Noonan gets violence offenses dismissed outright.

Read More about Commonwealth v. C.L. – Brockton District Court

Commonwealth v. A.A. – Brockton District Court

ABDW on PREGNANT WOMAN: REDUCED TO SIMPLE ASSAULT & BATTERY / IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES

Client, 42-year-old immigrant construction worker from Cape Verde with four children, was charged with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon on a Pregnant Woman, which is an aggravated felony. Defendant entered Rice’s Market in Brockton. Defendant was previously prohibited from entering Rice’s Market due to a prior incident with the female cashier (verbal altercation). On this occasion, Defendant approached the same female cashier to purchase a one-quart can of cooking oil. The female clerk informed Defendant that he was banned from the premises. Defendant became upset and threw the can of cooking oil at the female cashier striking her in the stomach. The female cashier was 8 months pregnant at time and was taken via ambulance to the emergency room. Because the charge constitutes an aggravated felony, Defendant was subject to deportation from the United States. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan procured an agreement with the Commonwealth to have the aggravated felony reduced to a misdemeanor Assault & Battery. Even with the reduced charge of Assault & Battery, Defendant would be subject to deportation, if convicted, because he had a prior conviction for Assault in Battery in 2009. Attorney Patrick J. Noonan procured an agreed upon disposition of the Assault & Battery charge called “guilty file.” For purposes of immigration law, a “guilty file” is not considered a conviction because it carries no penalty.

Result: Attorney Patrick J. Noonan successfully reduces aggravated felony charge of ABDW on a pregnant woman to the misdemeanor offense of simple Assault & Battery, and client avoids possible deportation.

Read More about Commonwealth v. A.A. – Brockton District Court

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.

Read More about Commonwealth v. J.S. – Brockton District Court

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.

Read More about V.A. vs. R.B. – Taunton District Court