Boston Criminal Lawyers Blog

Former Head of Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Busted for Drunk Driving in Harverhill

Published on: August 9, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Matthew Amorello, former State Senator and Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, was arrested late Saturday evening and was scheduled to be arraigned this morning on DUI / OUI Charges and Leaving the Scene of Property Damage.

According to the Haverhill Police Department, Amorello was reportedly driving drunk and collided with several parked vehicles in Haverhill. He further did not immediately pull over, which led to the additional charge of Leaving the Scene of Property Damage. His vehicle was located at a nearby car dealership with a wheel missing and Amorello inside the car alone. It is not believed that Amorello submitted to any Field Sobriety Tests or a Alcohol Breath Test.

OUI/DUI – Drunk Driving Charges:

2 Boston Men Arrested for Exposing Themselves on MBTA – Twitter Aids in Arrest

Published on: August 7, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Two Boston men were arrested this past week for exposing themselves on the MBTA. Lawrence MaGuire, 59 of Dorchester, and John A. Beyers, 64 of Brighton, were separately charged with the unlawful public indecency acts. Each have been charged with Open and Gross Lewdness and Indecent Exposure.

MaGuire is alleged to have exposed himself and then masturbating while on the Red Line from Davis to Park Street in Boston this past Wednesday.

Beyers is alleged to have exposed him to several women on July 22 at the Reservoir Station in Brookline. A witness to the incident apparently took a photo of Beyers with a cell phone and published the man’s photo on Twitter. The Boston Herald, after becoming aware of the Twitter posts, alerted the MBTA, who apparently recognized Beyers from prior incidents. This led to Beyers’ arrest yesterday.

Boston Man Charged with Stabbing 3 Others in Dorchester Restaurant

Published on: August 6, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Hung Nguyen, 32, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was arraigned on Friday in Dorchester District Court and charged with stabbing three other men during a fight on Thursday night.

According to the Boston Police Department, the incident occurred at the Saigon Seafood Restaurant in Dorchester. When they arrived on-scene, Boston Police officers said they encountered a melee involving a large group of individuals; and they were advised that there were multiple knives involves. Once the scene was made under control, Boston Police Officers report that several witnesses identified Hung Nguyen as the person who stabbed the 3 men.

Nguyen was held on $75,000 bail on Violent Crimes Charges including Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault with Intent to Murder.

Defendant Convicted for Raping 2 Boston Women 20 Years Ago

Published on: August 5, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Michael Johnson, 41, formerly of Boston’s South End, was convicted today on 2 counts of Rape in Suffolk Superior Court against 2 women more than 20 years ago. The Suffolk County D.A.’s Office had charged Johnson with raping a 23 year old Boston woman in April 1990; and then another Boston woman in May 1990.

Johnson was convicted for the crime of Home Invasion in 2003. In that case, a sample of his DNA was obtained, which was then used to link him to the 1990 rapes of the two women.

Consequences of Rape and Sex Crimes Convictions:

Lawrence Middle School Coach Charged with Statutory Rape of Student

Published on: August 4, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Tyrone Farrar, 30, was arraigned on Monday in Newburyport District Court on Sex Crimes Charges, including Statutory Rape, for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a female Lawrence Middle School Student.

According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Farrar, who works at a Lawrence Middle School as a security guard and serves as a basketball coach, allegedly began having sexual relations with a female student that began when she was 13 years old.

Farrar was arrested this past weekend for Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle and DUI while under the influence of drugs. At the time of his arrest, the female student, now 14 years old, was in the car with him. According to the police, the girl admitted to being sexually involved with Farrar, who is married.

Woman on Trial for Accidental Fatal Shooting of Son

Published on: August 3, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Lakeisha Gordon is currently on trial for Manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of her 8 year old son, Liquarry Jefferson, in 2007.

Gordon and her older son, Jayquan McConnico, were both charged in the boy’s death for unlawful storage of an unlicensed firearm within reach of a young child. Although McConnico was also charged, he pled guilty to similar charges in 2008.

Liquarry Jefferson was fatally shot in the home by another boy, who was 7 years old at the time. At trial today, the boy, now 10, testified that he was watching TV when Liquarry Jefferson showed him the gun, which belonged to Jayquan McConnico. The boy testified that he asked Jefferson if there were bullets in the gun, and Jefferson said no. At that point, the boy testified he accidentally shot Jefferson.

Beverly Teacher Who Plead Guilty in 22 Year-Old Stabbing Seeks to Return to Teaching

Published on: August 2, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Elizabeth Spoon, 40, plea guilty this past May in Peabody District Court to Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon for stabbing a man who was fighting with her boyfriend 22 years ago. In exchange for pleading Guilty, she was sentenced to 3 years’ probation.

The incident happened 22 years ago. Although a warrant for her arrest issued at the time, she was never brought before the court because the warrant was mistakenly issued with her boyfriend’s last name. It took the police 22 years to match with the Social Security number on the warrant with Spoon’s…

Prior to answering to the charges in Peabody District Court, Spoon was employed as a Beverly Middle School Teacher teaching fifth-grade math. Her license to teach having recently been reinstated, she is now hoping to have her old job back.

Dorchester Man Arrested in Murder of Jaewon Martin

Published on: July 30, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

The Boston Police Department announced today that they have made in arrest in the Murder of 14 year old Jaewon Martin. Martin was fatally shot near a basketball playground this past Spring in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

The suspect, Timothy Hearns, 20, of Dorchester, is scheduled to be arraigned in the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court this afternoon on several charges, including Murder and Armed Assault to Murder (in connection with the non-fatal shooting of another teen who was standing near Jaewon Martin).

Boston Criminal Lawyer Lefteris K. Travayiakis is an experienced criminal defense lawyer available 24/7 to represent persons charged with major felony crimes, including Murder, Armed Assault to Murder, and other Crimes of Violence.

Defendant Held Without Bail in Fall River Kidnapping & Rape

Published on: July 29, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Angel Luis Cruz, 38, of Fall River, Massachusetts, was ordered held without bail after his Arraignment this week for allegedly kidnapping a 58 year old woman from her front porch and taking her to his apartment where he raped her.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office alleges that one of the woman’s sons witnessed his mother being dragged from her porch and gave chase without success. He did, however, obtain a description of the suspect’s vehicle along with a partial plate number. About an hour after her abduction, the woman was seen walking towards her home after apparently being dropped off by Cruz.

When she was released from Cruz’ custody after the alleged assault, the unidentified woman led Fall River Police Officers to the apartment where the crime took place. Although Cruz was not present in the apartment when police came to investigate, he was eventually found near the home and arrested.

Three Persons Duped into Craigslist Armed Robbery Scheme

Published on: July 28, 2010 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

In response to a Craigslist ad, three persons traveled from Rhode Island to Milton, Massachusetts to purchase a television they saw advertised on the Craigslist website, only to be robbed at gunpoint of over $1,000.

According to the Milton Police Department, the incident occurred at a foreclosed home on Randolph Avenue in Milton, Massachusetts. Upon arrival, one of the three men went to the door of the home and was ordered inside at gun point. Once inside, he was pistol-whipped and robbed. The robbers then went to the car and also ordered the other two individuals into the home at gunpoint. One of them was also pistol-whipped, and they were both also robbed.

At this time, no further information has been released regarding any possible leads into this investigation. If apprehended, the suspects face various criminal charges, including Kidnapping, Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, and Armed Robbery.