In 2012, former drug lab chemist Annie Dookhan was caught tampering with evidence and falsifying test results in thousands of criminal drug cases. For her crime, Dookhan spent three years behind bars. But what about the falsified tests? More than 24,000 drug convictions may have been involved in the tampering…
So, it happened again? In a perfect world, we would all learn from our mistakes the first time…but it doesn’t always work that way. If you are facing charges for a second OUI offense in Massachusetts, you will need the help of a skilled OUI defense attorney to minimize the…
If you can’t afford bail, what do you do? Well, the short answer is, you stay in jail. But there are limits on the amount of bail a court can impose on an individual, based on unique circumstances of that case. If bail seems disproportionately high, a skilled defense attorney…
The Netflix series “Making a Murderer” aired earlier this year and quickly became one of the pioneering network’s most popular documentaries. The series centered around the 2007 sexual assault and murder of a photographer, and the possible framing of several individuals. One of those individuals, then-16-year-old Brendan Dassey, was questioned…
Four years ago, Massachusetts state chemist, Annie Dookhan, was convicted of falsifying drug tests and tampering with evidence in thousands of criminal cases. Although Dookhan has completed her three-year prison sentence, many of the individuals whose drug samples she tampered with are still waiting for their time in court. But…
In Twelve Step programs, one of the steps to recovery is to “make amends” to people you have wronged. Well, while I am not involved in such a program at present, I do owe you, my readers, an amends. I left you hanging during the police cam festivities, hinting that…
I have been bouncing back and forth between the Boston Police Union vs. Body Cams follies and the return to…that other Department…in terms of topics for the blog this week. I think, as a prelude to both, I should bring you a case in which the Supreme Judicial Court has…
You have probably heard the notion that being broke is not a crime in the United States. After all, they can’t prosecute you simply for being poor, can they? Well, kinda- sorta. Try not being able to pay restitution, probation fees or other court costs when you are on probation…! A…
In my last blog, I told you that I would address a second issue which came to light (again) from a recent SJC decision. The decision involved a murder case and the issue of exculpatory/informant evidence that had not been disclosed to the defense. Of course, I had also indicated…
Darkens Bonnett (hereinafter the “Defendant”) is a gent who stands charged and convicted of first-degree murder. Well, at least he was. The Defendant’s case has been remanded back to trial court to deal with a problem regarding discovery. The Supreme Judicial Court found prejudicial error in his case upon reviewing…