Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog
On May 18, 2026, ET, a 67 year old administrative employee for a pharmaceutical company, went to the Target store in Wilmington. As she had done on several prior occassions she had a number of items in her cart and proceded through the self check out area. She scanned two items and did not scan the remaining items and placed all the items in a bag and headed for the door. She was stopped by store security and brought back to the loss prevention office. Using their facial recognition software they were able to identify ET as having shoplifted on a number of prior occasions. The Wilmington Police responded to the store and took ET’s information and told her she would receive a notice to go to court. ET was served with a written NO TRESPASS order from the store and was then allowed to leave the store.
ET researched lawyers and then met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained a copy of the police report and reviewed it with ET. As he always does, Attorney Lewin reached out to the police prosecutor and discussed the case with him. The aim of the discussion was to try to reach an agreement with the police to not have a criminal complaint be issued against ET.
The case was set down for a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing at Woburn District Court. On August 5, 2026, ET and Attorney Lewin appeared at Woburn District Court for the Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. The Assistant Clerk-Magistrate conducting the hearing asked the police prosecutor and Attorney Lewin if they had discussed a possible resolution of the case. The Police Prosecutor said yes and suggested continuing the hearing for three months and if ET stayed out of the store and did not get into any trouble with the law then the case could be dismissed and no one would have to return to court. Attorney Lewin confirmed that he and ET were in agreement with that proposal.
The Clerk-Magistrate stated that he would adopt that proposal and continued the hearing until November 4, 2026. The Clerk-Magistrate ordered that as long as ET stayed out of the store and committed no law violations, then on November 4, 2026 no one had to return to court and the case would be dismissed.
Attorney Lewin explained the following to ET that as a result of this disposition of the case:
- NO criminal complaint was being issued against ET.
- ET was NOT being charged with any criminal offense.
- ET did NOT have to return to Court and go before a Judge.
- NO entry was being made in the CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) system against ET.
- ET would have NO criminal record as a result of this case.
ET was thrilled with the result and gave Attorney Lewin a big thank you.
Attorney Lewin was an Assistant District Attorney from 1971 to 1975 and for the last 51 years has limited his practice to criminal defense. Results like this are common for Attorney Lewin as he fully and carefully prepares every case that he takes on. There are very few lawyers in Massachusetts who have the years of experience and breath of knowledge and “simple know how” that Attorney Lewin brings to every client and every case.