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RP is a 38 year old elementary school teacher living in Haverhill. On September 30, 2024 RP got into an argument with her younger sister and slapped her sister across the face. RP fled the house after striking her sister and the sister called 911. The police responded and called RP, but she refused to “turn herself in”. The police went to Haverhill District Court and filed a criminal complaint against RP for Assault and Battery. The court issued a summons for RP to appear for an arraignment on November 5, 2024. RP met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin to represent her in Haverhill District Court.

Prior to the arraignment date, Attorney Lewin prepared and filed at the Court a Motion for a pre-arraignment disposition. When an arraignment takes place in a criminal case, a criminal record is created and an entry is made in the statewide Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system. Also prior to the arraignment date Attorney Lewin met with the Assistant DA at Haverhill Court to discuss a pre-arraignment disposition. Lastly, prior to the arraignment date, Attorney Lewin spoke to RP’s sister. The two women had settled their differences.

Because RP is an elementary school teacher, it was/is imperative for her NOT to have any criminal record – and in particular not to have any criminal record for assaultive behavior. Having such a record would probably cost her her job.

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PH is a 54 year old personal trainer. PH has her own workout studio but also travels to clients’ homes, particularly elderly or disabled clients. On November 15, 2024, PH was travelling from her studio in Rowley to the home of an elderly client in Amesbury. At an intersection in Amesbury she ran a red light and got pulled over by the Amesbury Police. When the police ran her license it came back that her license was suspended. The police cited PH for Operating After Suspension of License.  The police had her car towed and issued her a citation.

PH contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin instructed PH to immediately request a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing which PH did. It turns out that PH’s license was suspended because she had failed to pay a ticket. To her credit PH went and immediately paid the ticket and the reinstatement fee online and her license was reinstated. Attorney Lewin explained to PH that if anything helps to make these operating after suspension cases go away, it is getting your license reinstated before the hearing date.

Attorney Lewin contacted the Amesbury Police Prosecutor and explained that PH’s license had been suspended because of an unpaid ticket. Attorney Lewin further explained to the prosecutor that PH had immediately paid the ticket and the reinstatement fee and that her license was now reinstated. Attorney Lewin asked the prosecutor to agree to dismiss the charge.

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On March 3, 2025, JN, a 34 year old production supervisor, consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin in Andover. JN had an outstanding warrant in Lawrence District Court (on a case where he owed money to the court) and an outstanding warrant in Haverhill District Court (on an open case where he was charged with Larceny of a Motor Vehicle). JN’s license was suspended because of the two cases and he needed to get it back. One of the problems with the charge of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle is that a conviction carries a one-year loss of license.

Attorney Lewin investigated the two cases and was convinced that he could get the case in Lawrence closed by having JN pay the money that was owing to the court. More importantly, Attorney Lewin was convinced that JN was not guilty of the Larceny of a Motor Vehicle charge. The charge arose out of JN’s failure to return (and pay for) a car that he had rented from a car rental agency.

On March 14, 2025 JN and Attorney Lewin began the day in Haverhill District Court. The warrant in Haverhill District Court was cancelled, JN was arraigned, and the case in Haverhill was continued to April 18, 2025 for a pre-trial hearing. At Attorney Lewin’s request the Judge in Haverhill did NOT hold JN in custody for the warrant in Lawrence, but rather directed JN and Attorney Lewin to go to Lawrence Court that same day to address the warrant in Lawrence. Attorney Lewin and JN left Haverhill and went straight to Lawrence District Court. Within an hour JN and Attorney Lewin were in front of the Judge in Lawrence District Court. Attorney Lewin explained that JN owed money to the court and he was ready to pay it immediately. The Judge in Lawrence cancelled the warrant; JN went to the cashier’s office and paid the money he owed; the Judge ordered the case in Lawrence District Court DISMISSED.

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On April 29, 2024, JV, a 30 year old environmental consultant, was driving his car on Rt. 113 in Methuen. Another vehicle was following him very closely and then passed him in a no pass zone. The two cars then played cat and mouse. JV then found himself in front of the other car and then the other car passed by him and cut JV off almost causing a collision. JV then pulled alongside the other vehicle and threw a metal speaker at the other vehicle, striking the other vehicle, and putting a dent in the other vehicle. The two vehicles pulled over and the police were called and responded within minutes. JV admitted to the police that he had thrown the metal speaker at the other vehicle. The police charged JV with Malicious Destruction to a Motor Vehicle. The problem with this particular charge is that it carries a 1 year loss of license and it cannot be continued without a finding.

JV consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained the police reports and more importantly the police body cam recordings from the scene. The body cam recordings very helpful. They showed that the driver of the other vehicle was a raving lunatic. In addition, another motorist stopped at the scene and spoke to the police and said that the other driver was driving like a madman and that he had cut her off as well. Although that did not excuse JV’s throwing the metal speaker, it provided context to the entire episode.

Prior to the court date, Attorney Lewin met with the DA and had insisted that the DA watch the police body cam, which the DA did. In addition, Attorney had asked the DA to reduce the charge to simple destruction of personal property (which carries NO loss of license). In addition, Attorney Lewin asked the DA to dismiss the case.

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On November 9, 2024, EP, a 54 year old union carpenter, went to a restaurant in Methuen with his extended family. While at the restaurant he saw SP, a similarly aged man, who had had a number of confrontations with EP’s brother. At one point EP left his table and went to the men’s room. As EP was about to leave the men’s room SP entered the men’s room. The two men exchanged words with one another and then the stories diverged. A fight broke out between the two men; the restaurant management broke up the fight and escorted the two men out of the restaurant; and the police were called and responded quickly to the restaurant. EP told the police that SP had chest bumped him as he was trying to leave the men’s room and EP had simply pushed SP out of his way so he could leave the men’s room. SP told the police that EP had grabbed him by the throat and punched him in the face. SP told the police he wanted charges filed against EP.

The police charged both men with Assault & Battery. EP consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained copies of the police report and Attorney Lewin spoke with the police prosecutor. The two cases were set up for a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing at Lawrence District Court. On January 7, 2025 EP and Attorney Lewin arrived at Court for the hearing. SP was also present but did not have a lawyer. Attorney Lewin went over to SP and had a conversation with SP. Attorney Lewin explained to SP that if the two men went ahead with the hearing that the Clerk-Magistrate would issue criminal complaints against both men and then both men would have to return to court and criminal records would be created against both men. Attorney Lewin said that if SP and EP agreed not to go forward that it was very likely that the Clerk-Magistrate would not issue a criminal complaint against either man. SP, who could be a stubborn man, saw the light and agreed with Attorney Lewin’s suggestion.

The case was called into the hearing room. The Clerk-Magistrate had the police prosecutor read the police report. The police report clearly set out probable cause for the Clerk-Magistrate to issue criminal complaints against both men for Assault & Battery. The Clerk-Magistrate then turned to Attorney Lewin and requested his input. Attorney Lewin explained to the Clerk-Magistrate that he had spoken to both men, and both men were requesting that the Clerk-Magistrate not issue complaints. In addition, Attorney Lewin had also spoken to the police prosecutor and the police prosecutor stated to the Clerk-Magistrate that he had no objection to Attorney Lewin’s suggestion.

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CP, a 35 year old male, and his husband, GP, a 43 year old male, have been married for 5 years. There were considerable tensions in the marriage. On January 8, 2025, GP, applied for an Abuse Prevention Order in Lawrence District Court and was granted a temporary order. The order was scheduled for a two party hearing on January 22, 2025. CP was served with the order and immediately sought out a lawyer.  CP met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover.

Attorney Lewin immediately went over to Lawrence District Court and obtained a copy of GP’s complaint and affidavit. Attorney Lewin and CP went thorough GP’s affidavit together. It was readily apparent that GP was not alleging any physical abuse. Under a 2024 change in the law, physical abuse is no longer required to obtain an order. The 2024 change in the law added “coercive control” as a basis for obtaining an Abuse Prevention Order. This is what GP was alleging in his complaint. The new law defines “Coercive Control” as follows:

  • “(a) a pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, coerce or compel compliance of a family or household member that causes that family or household member to reasonably fear physical harm or have a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy, including, but not limited to:
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On December 29, 2023, MF, a 35 year old nursing student, was stopped by the State Police on Route 1 in Saugus. The police cited him for an array of offenses:

  • Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle
  • Operating a Motor Vehicle After Suspension of  the Registration
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RS, a 79 year old retired engineer, enjoys hiking in the forests of Essex County, MA. The problem is he enjoys hiking naked. You could not make this case up. The environmental police had received several complaints of a man hiking in the nude. Unbeknownst to RS, a hunter had lawfully installed a hunting camera on a tree in the woods. The camera captured RS hiking nude on four occassions between August 2024 and October 2024. On one of his hikes, RS noticed the camera and took it down and brought it home. Unfortunately for RS the camera did two things that RS did not expect: (1) it captured him nude at home and sent those images to the hunter’s computer and (2) it sent out its GPS coordinates to the hunter’s computer. The hunter in turn gave the images and the GPS coordinates to the Environmental Police. The GPS coordinates led the police to RS’s home. The police got a search warrant, went to RS’s home, seized the camera, and charged RS with a host of crimimal offenses. The criminal charges included Hunter Harassment (the removing of the camera), Larceny (the taking of the camera), and 4 counts of indecent exposure. The case was set up for a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing.

RS met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin immediately reached out to the Environmental Police and, more importantly, Attorney Lewin contacted the General Counsel’s Office for the state office of environmental affairs. Attorney Lewin was able to make contact with the Assistant General Counsel for the Department who would make the decision about whether the case would go forward or not. In addition, Attorney Lewin had RS meet with a counselor who dealt with exhibitionist behavior; the counselor gave Attorney Lewin a very favorable report. Attorney Lewin engaged in lengthy negotiations with the Department and was able to get the Department to agree to recommend that a criminal complaint NOT be issued against RS.

On December 12, 2024, RS and Attorney Lewin appeared at Lawrence District Court for a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing on the Application for Criminal Complaint that had been filed by the Environmental Police.  The environmental police were present and presented their detailed case against RS. Attorney Lewin explained to the Clerk-Magistrate the lengthy negotiations that had taken place with the Department and the agreement that had been reached.

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On October 17, 2024, IS, a 33 year old counselor was stopped in North Andover for speeding and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. IS has a substantial motor vehicle record and a finding against him would have caused his license to be suspended. To his credit, within two days of getting the citation IS got his car insured and got the registration renewed (the police did not charge him with the offense of operating an unregistered vehicle). IS failed to request a clerk-magistrate hearing and a criminal complaint issued against him. IS received a summons in the mail to appear in Lawrence Distrioct Court for an arraignment on Decembedr 20, 2024. IS consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover.

Attorney Lewin, with assistance from IS, gathered together all the necessary paperwork (the new insurance policy showing that it was purcahsed two days after the incident as well as the new registration certificate). On December 20, 2024 IS and Attorney Lewin went to Lawrence District Court for the arraignment. Attorney Lewin met with the Assistant District Attorney and furnished copies of the new insurance policy and the new registration to the Assistant DA. At Attorney Lewin’s request, the Assistant District Attorney agreed to DISMISS the uninsured motor vehicle charge prior to arraignment and the Assistahnt DA agreed to enter a finding of NOT responsible on the speeding charge. This was the very best of all possible results.

By dismissing the case prior to arraignment this case did NOT go onto IS’s crimimal record. In addition, IS did not suffer any penalty against his driver’s license from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It was a complete win.

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On August 5, 2024, JT, a 40 year old Nurse was living in Cambridge. JT owned a car but was not using it and had it parked in her driveway. In Massachusetts you must have a car registered and insured in order to legally park it in your driveway. The car was in fact insured; however, it was not registered. She had an old set of out of state plates that belonged to her boyfriend. She attached those plates to the car to make it appear as if the car was registered. On the night of August 5, 2024 JT and her boyfriend got into an argument and he left their apartment. JT went out to look for him and fired up the car and drove into Boston looking for him. She got pulled over for speeding by the State Police. That is when the trouble started. The State Trooper ran the plates that were on the car and discovered they came back to another vehicle that did not belong to her. The Trooper ordered her out of the car; had the car towed; and cited her for two criminal offenses (wrongfully attaching plates and operating an uninsured vehicle) and two civil infractions (speeding and operating an unregistered vehicle). JT failed to request a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing (big mistake – as the case probably could have been resolved at a Clerk-Maguistrate Hearing without any charges beuing issued against her). The case was set down for an arraignment on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. JT failed to appear for her arraignment and a warrant for her arrest was issued at Brighton Municipal Court. The Court then notified JT that a warrant for her arrest had been issued by the court.

On Thursday evening, December 12, 2024, JT contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. The next day, Friday, December 13, 2024, Attorney Lewin obtained copies of the police report and all the court papers. It was immediately obvious to Attorney Lewin that the police had failed to comply with the no-fix ticket law.  That law requires the police, among other things, to file the citation with the court within 6 business days of the violation. (Most lawyers have never even heard of the six day rule – but Attorney Robert Lewin knows the rule well and uses it all the time to get cases dismissed.) Over the weekend, Attorney Lewin prepared a Motion to Dismiss ALL the charges against JT due to the police failure to comply with the six day rule.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, Attormey Lewin and JT appeared in Boston Municipal Court – Brighton Division. Attorney Lewin had his Motion to Dismiss all prepared and ready to file at Court. First, however, Attorney Lewin went down to the District Attorney’s Office to speak with the Assistant District Attorney. Attorney Lewin had documents to show that the car was now fully registered and insured (and that it was insured on the date JT was pulled over). Attorney Lewin explained to the Assistant DA that JT had no crimimal record, that she was a nurse, and that she was now enrolled in a graduate (Masters) degree nursing program. The Assistant DA told Attorney Lewin that the Commonwealth would agree to the warrant being cancelled, the two criminal charges being DISMISSED prior to arraignment, and that findings of NOT responsible could be entered on the two civil violations. It was a complete and total win – and Attorney Lewin never took the Motion tio Dismiss out of his briefcase!

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