Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog
OQ, a 39 year old Indian immigrant, was caught shoplifting at the Target Store in Wilmington on January 31, 2026. She was brought back to the loss prevention office and the Wilmington Police responded. The loss prevention officer at the store told OQ (and the police) that OQ was “a serial shoplifter as their records show nine other incidents of shoplifting from multiple stores”. OQ had her two young children with her. The police did not arrest her, but told her that she would receive a notice from Woburn District Court.
OQ immediately sought out a lawyer and contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin immediately contated the Wilmington Police and was able to obtain a copy of the police report and the Target investigation report. Attorney Lewin also contacted the Target Corporate law firm.
The police filed an Application for a Criminal Complaint against OQ at Woburn District Court. The case was set up for a Clerk-Magistrate hearing on March 4, 2026. Attorney Lewin got OQ to pay restitution to Target for all the merchandise she had stolen and payment was made before the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. Attorney Lewin had several discussions with the Police Prosecutor and ultimately the police prosecutor agreed to recommend to the Clerk-Magistrate that NO complaint be issued againt OQ.
On March 4, 2026, OQ and Attorney Lewin appeared in Woburn District Court for the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. Attorney Lewin explained to ther Clerk-Magistrate that OQ had paid restitution in full to Target for the stolen merchandise. Attorney Lewin also explained to the Clerk-Magistrate that both sides were recommending that no criminal complaint be issued and that the matter be left open for six months to be dismissed if OQ stays out of trouble.
The Clerk-Magistrate adopted what the two sides were recommending. After the hearing, Attiorney Lewin explained the following to OQ:
- OQ was NOT being charged with a crime.
- NO criminal complaint was being issued against OQ.
- OQ did NOT have to return to Court and go before a Judge.
- NO entry was being made in the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) System against OQ.
- OQ has NO crimial record as a result of this.
- If OQ stays out of trouble for six months, then OQ does NOT have to return to Court and on September 2, 2026, the Application for Criminal Complaint that the police had filed against OQ would be DENIED and DISMISSED.
This was a big win for OQ and she thanked Attorney Lewin.
Results like this are common for Attorney Robert Lewin. Attorney Lewin began his legal career in the Middlesex County DA’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney. He left the DA’s Office in 1975 and for the last 51 years has limited his practice to Criminal Defense. There are very few lawyers in eastern Massachusetts that have the years of experience and simple know how that Attorney Lewin brings to every case that he handles. The results that he is able to achieve for clients speak for themselves.