Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog

Conrad Murray, the personal physician of Michael Jackson, pleaded not guilty to a single felony charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of the famous performer. Bail was set at $75,000—three times more than the amount faced by most people who are charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors had wanted bail set at $300,000. Michael Jackson’s parents, Katherine and Joe, and his brothers Randy, Tito Jackie, and Jermaine, and his sister La Toya were at Murray's arraignment.

Upon Murray's release after posting bail, the 56-year-old cardiologist will not be allowed to leave the country.

Murray was Jackson’s personal physician when he died. According to officials, the performer died after Murray gave him propofol and two other sedatives to treat his chronic insomnia.

The criminal complaint against Murray accuses him of unlawfully killing Michael Joseph Jackson, albeit with out malice, and of acting “without due caution and circumspection.”

The coroner had ruled the singer’s death a homicide caused by acute intoxication by propofol and other sedatives. The autopsy report released today says that Jackson was administered a powerful anesthetic at a dose equal to what would be given during a major operation and that medical standards were not met.

Murray maintains he did not do anything that should have killed Jackson. His criminal defense attorney is vowing that he and his client will “fight like hell.” If convicted, Murray faces a maximum four years in prison.

Michael Jackson died at age 50 on June 25, 2009.

High profile criminal cases, especially one involving a beloved victim, can prove challenging for the defendant, who may have the court of public opinion against him/her.

Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty, Yahoo/AP, February 8, 2010

Conrad Murray: Michael Jackson case and celebrities' doctors, The Christian Science Monitor, February 5, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Propofol, Drugs.com

Michael Jackson Autopsy Report, The Smoking Gun

Continue reading "Michael Jackson’s Doctor Pleads Not Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Singer’s Death " »

Last week, the Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog discussed cases involving assaults of various natures. Some involved drugs. Some involved the ultimate assault... homicide.

This week, we begin with assault of a different kind. Here, no person was assaulted.

It was a wall.

No, it was not a drunk driving case, where an inebriated driver believed that the traffic laws allowed “Straight On Red”...even if straight ahead was a stone wall.

This was just a regular corridor wall. Inside, not outside.

Continue reading "Massachusetts Student Needs Experienced Lawyer In Assault Of Wall Case" »

A Middlesex Superior Court Grand Jury indicted Roger Lau and Thomas Heinz, both 26, on child rape charges yesterday. They are accused of raping the same girl.

Prosecutors say that both men assaulted a girl from the under-14 Medford girls soccer league that they were coaching. The alleged Massachusetts sexual assault crimes began taking place in 2003 and the last incident is said to have occurred during the summer of 2004.

The alleged victim, who was then 13 to 14 years of age, told police that she and Lau were sexually involved with each other for over a year. She claims that Heinz sexually assaulted her twice.

Lau was indicted on four counts of child rape by force and Heinz was indicted on one count of child rape by force. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The two men were arrested last December. They are on pre-trial release and have been ordered not to have contact with children under age 16 unless these interactions are supervised. They also cannot coach or officiate any activities involving kids younger than 16.

Massachusetts Rape Charges
Allegations of rape are very serious—especially if the alleged victim is younger than 16. The state of Massachusetts does not consider an adult having sex with someone younger than 16 to ever be a consensual act and criminal charges can be filed against the adult. Punishments may be even more serious when violence or abuse is involved.

You have the right to an experienced Boston sex crimes lawyer who can defend you against all charges and protect your rights. Even if you are not guilty of committing any crime, your life can be irrevocably altered when you are accuse of rape.

Former Medford soccer coaches indicted on rape charges, Boston.com, February 5, 2010

Roger Lau, Thomas Heinz Accused Of Teen Soccer Child Rape, Huffington Post, December 22, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Massachusetts Law About Sex

Continue reading "Middlesex Superior Court Grand Jury Indicts Two Former Medford Soccer Coaches on Child Rape Charges " »

The Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog has regularly suggested how an experienced defense attorney can help you if there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest.

It may be that Dr. Conrad Murray,( hereinafter, the “Defendant”) the doctor who administered the fatal dose of Propofol to Michael Jackson and now is to face homicide charges is a reader! Well, if not, at least he is being similarly advised.

According to law enforcement, his attorneys have been in contact with the L.A. County District Attorney's Office to surrender on charges of involuntary manslaughter . Apparently, the plan is that the prosecutor will file the charges with the court and then immediately notify the Defendant’s lawyers. They will then bring the Defendant downtown to court to surrender to a judge.

What happens next is anybody’s guess. He could be arrested and held. He could be simply arraigned. There is one sticking point, though. It would appear that this is not the Defendant’s only legal problem at the moment. Apparently, there is a case against him in Las Vegas brought by a medical imaging company for non-payment of fees. There is currently a default judgment against the Defendant in that matter.

Continue reading "Attorney Sam’s Take: Does Michael Jackson Homicide Doc Read The Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog?" »

Gang violence in the Boston area. The battles are played out in the streets by gang members, law enforcement and innocent bystanders as well as the Commonwealth’s courtrooms with lawyers and judges.

The homicide victim this time was a Revere Police Officer Daniel T (hereinafter, the “Deceased”). The killing took place in 2007. Now, in 2010, Robert I., 22, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) has been found guilty of second-degree murder by a Suffolk Superior Court jury.

But the controversy has not ended there. People are questioning the city’s police department as a result of how the shooting had occurred.

The Commonwealth contends that the Defendant was a member of the “Bloods” street gang. It also contends that the Defendant shot the Deceased above his right eye believing he was a gang rival.

Continue reading "Massachusetts Gang Violence Results In Murder Conviction In Shooting Of Police Officer" »

It is not terribly unusual to hear about a case in which a student is accused of getting into a fight with another student. However, a Newton high school student has now been charged with Massachusetts assault and battery against someone else...a teacher. But it does not end there. He will also have to tell his new attorney how to defend against the charge that illegal drugs were the issue of the altercation.

The 16-year-old lad (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) was charged with assaulting the teacher on Friday after a metal box full of marijuana was allegedly confiscated from him at school, police said.

According to the Commonwealth, a teacher caught the Defendant in a school bathroom with the box in a, and took him into an office, where he was told his parents would be contacted. As the Defendant was being escorted to another school office, police said, he allegedly grabbed a different teacher's hand in an attempt to retrieve the box. The teacher was not injured.

Police say that the box contained five packages of marijuana.

Continue reading "Massachusetts High School Student Arrested For Assaulting Teacher And Intent To Sell Drugs" »

Kyle B., 28, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is in trouble again. Criminal Justice trouble. Massachusetts Murder trouble.

The Defendant was arrested in Brockton Saturday and charged with the murder of a man outside of a local restaurant on January 5th. A second witness of the shooting was shot in the leg and has survived. The Defendant stands accused of the shooting of both gentlemen as well as unlawful possession of a firearm.

Law enforcement has wasted no time in calling the double shooting “egregious” and “heinous.” Ignoring the usual need for lip-service on behalf of the presumption of innocence, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has publically declared that ““The shooter in this case is a very dangerous person. I’m glad he’s off the street”, he continued. “Brockton is safer without him on the street.”

Of course, the Defendant is not a complete stranger to charges of homicide. He was charged with the 1999 grisly death of a 14-year-old girl who had been eight months pregnant, presumably with his child. In fact, in a recorded statement to police, the Defendant described himself as a witness who had watched a friend lure her to a shallow grave , stabbed her and bludgeoned her with a rock a brick before burying her alive. The Defendant then led police to that grave. The Commonwealth charged him with being part of the conspiracy to kill the young woman. However, at trial, some five years later, he was found to be “not guilty” by a jury.

After the 2004 jury trial, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley’s office described itself as being “baffled and pained” by Bryant’s acquittal.

I guess both District Attorneys are sleeping better tonight.

Continue reading "Acquitted Of Murder In Boston, Shooting Suspect Needs Another Defense Attorney " »

Police have arrested three men over their alleged involvement in a Massachusetts ATM theft scam. Ivaylo Hristov, Anton Venkov, and Vladislav Vladev are accused of being part of a fraud ring that allegedly has stolen, according to Quincy police, hundreds of thousands of dollars from numerous victims in the Greater Boston Area.

The three men allegedly engaged in “skimming,” which involves people using bank-card readers and tiny cameras to retrieve people’s bank and pin information. The data can then be downloaded onto a card that has a magnetic strip. The card can then work as an ATM card to the victim’s bank account.

Police arrested Hristov, 28, at Citizens Bank in Quincy where he allegedly stole $500 from someone’s ATM bank account. They say he had eight re-coded Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards with him. He also has been charged over his alleged involvement in an ATM theft that took place in Milton.

Venkov, 40, is charged with aiding and abetting the identity fraud scam and also of using counterfeit bank account access codes. Police says that when they arrested Venkov he had $99,100 in cash in his car. Vladev, 36, was detained at Logan International Airport as he was attempting to leave for Germany. He pleaded not guilty to identify fraud and larceny charges.

Police found gadgets and computer equipment in a Weymouth storage unit that they believe belong to Hristov and his alleged cohorts. Authorities say there are other skimming operations in Weymouth, Roslindale, Braintree, Dorchester, and Milton.

Do not give up hope if you have been arrested for allegedly committing a Massachusetts crime. You may have been wrongly charged. There may be evidence that can prove you are not guilty. There may be criminal charges filed against you that can be reduced or dropped. Police may have gone about obtaining the evidence they have in the wrong way and that evidence may now be inadmissible. Your civil rights may have been violated during your arrest or detention.

Police break ATM skimming ring in Greater Boston, Wicked Local, January 29, 2010

Two more arrested in ATM theft case, Boston.com, January 29, 2010

Related Web Resources:
ATM fraud, a.k.a. skimming, is on the rise, ConsumerReports, January 14, 2010

Identity theft, FTC

Continue reading "Three People Arrested in Massachusetts ATM Theft Scam" »

And so the trial of assumption and innuendo (at least, so far) continues in Brockton, Massachusetts. Attorneys battle it out as jurors hear different observations of the home of Carolyn R. (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) and the various family members. As you may recall, the Defendant and her husband are being charged, yet tried separately for the first-degree murder of their 4-year-old daughter (hereinafter, the “Deceased”). According to yesterday’s Globe, Tuesday’s testimony had to do mostly with...the husband (hereinafter, “Co-Defendant Dad”) .

That’s right...first degree murder. The one with premeditation.

Correct again...Co-Defendant Dad. The one not on trial yet.

It was a stellar day for the prosecution.

Continue reading "Massachusetts Murder – By – Drugs Trial Continues" »

I know you’ve heard the story by now. Massachusetts is in the news again due to a celebrity crime story. This time, the celebrity, Nancy Kerrigan, isn’t really part of the story.

But the rest of the family is.

Mark Kerrigan, Nancy’s 45-year-old brother (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) has been accused of causing the death of their father, Daniel (hereinafter, “Dad”). No, the Commonwealth does not contend that the Defendant plotted to kill Dad and then executed the plan...it was more tragic than that.

The allegations are that the Defendant wanted to use the telephone, but Dad would not let him. An argument ensued and became physical. Finally, the Defendant is said to have grabbed Dad by the neck. Dad fell to the ground. The Defendant claimed he was faking...but that opinion obviously changed when the police came.

Dad died and the Defendant, allegedly drunk and unruly, was pepper-sprayed and arrested.

Continue reading "Kerrigan And Attorney Await Results Of Massacusetts Grand Jury" »

Arraignments do not always take place in the courtroom, as Robert G., 19,(hereinafter, the “Defendant”) learned yesterday. He was arraigned in a Worcester hospital bed on charges of killing his ex-girlfriend, 19-year-old Allison M. (hereinafter, the “Deceased”). The Deceased was a Fitchburg State College freshman. In the past, she had obtained at least two restraining orders to keep the Defendant away from her, authorities said.

The Defendant was charged with first-degree murder, and violating the restraining orders, after allegedly stabbing and shooting to death the Deceased. He remains in critical condition after allegedly trying to kill himself as well.

“We are alleging that this is another troubling incident of domestic violence resulting in homicide, where the defendant is alleged to have fatally stabbed the victim, his ex-girlfriend, and then attempted to kill himself,” Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said in a press conference this afternoon at his office in Woburn.

“This is the second such incident we have in consecutive weeks, where we are alleging that a male defendant has killed his former or present female significant other, and then seemingly tried to end his own life,'' Leone said. "We must continue to find ways to stem this tide of alarming domestic violence incidents.”

Continue reading "Massachusetts Homicide Charges Result From Restraining Order Violations" »

Mark Kerrigan, the brother of Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, has been charged with assaulting their father Daniel Kerrigan. The 70-year-old was found unresponsive on Sunday morning in his Stoneham residence following an argument between the two men. He died later that day.

Mark, 45, has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him. The unemployed plumber is an Army veteran who continues to undergo Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
According to police, Mark told them his father wouldn’t let him use the phone and the two men became involved in a physical altercation. He says that after placing his arms around his dad's neck, Daniel fell to the ground.

Police who arrived at the Kerrigan home say that Daniel was lying on the ground but alive. They claim that Mark appeared intoxicated and was “belligerent.” The officers found whiskey bottles in the basement. He was arrested on charges of Massachusetts assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Mark has not be charged with Massachusetts murder. Autopsy results to determine is cause of death are still pending. The criminal defense lawyer appointed to defend Mark says his client is grieving over his father.

The Kerrigan family has been in the media spotlight before. Nancy Kerrigan is a former Olympic figure skating champion who won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer. In 1994, she was assaulted in a plot by rival Tonya Harding, who she would go on to compete against and defeat in Norway.

Allegations of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon are serious criminal charges.

Nancy Kerrigan's brother pleads not guilty to assault charge, Los Angeles Times, January 25, 2010

Nancy Kerrigan's father dies; brother charged in attack, Boston.com, January 25, 2010

Related Web Resources:
National Center for PTSD

The Nancy Kerrigan Biography, Biography.com

Continue reading "Brother of Nancy Kerrigan is Charged with Massachusetts Assault in Death of Their Father " »