Articles Posted in Domestic Assault Cases

On May 20, 2018 NU, a 31 year old pest control worker, was arrested in Andover for assaulting his sister by alleging throwing her to the ground during an alcohol fueled argument. The was his third arrest for assault and battery in the last two years. Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover had represented NU in the first two cases. One ended in a finding of not guilty and the second was dismissed. NU again consulted with and retained Attorney Lewin to represent him in this case. It was NU’s claim that his sister in an unprovoked attack had sucker punched NU in the mouth cutting his lip open and that in self-defense he had pushed her away from him. The sister called 911 and NU was arrested and charged.

The sister admitted to the police that she had punched NU in the mouth but she told the police that she had done that to defend herself. It was very apparent to Attorney Lewin that the sister had a valid Fifth Amendment claim not to testify – if she wanted to exercise it. Attorney Lewin advised NU that NU had every right to apply for a criminal complaint against his sister to level the playing field. NU did not want to press a criminal charge against his sister; however, the sister was informed that she herself had exposure to a charge being brought against her and  that she had a right not to testify against her brother.

On June 25, 2018 NU and Attorney Lewin appeared in Lawrence District Court for a pre-trial hearing. Attorney Lewin explained to the DA that the sister had a valid Fifth Amendment claim and would probably exercise the claim. As is their usual custom the DA refused to dismiss the case at the pre-trial hearing. The case was continued for trial to Tuesday, August 21, 2018.

On July 1, 2018 the Haverhill Police were called to  a single family home in Haverhill for a reported domestic assault and battery. Mr. and Mrs. T and their son F, age 21, live in the house. F is a large man standing almost 6’4″ tall and weighing almost 350 pounds. F suffers from severe anxiety. F and his Mother, Mrs. T, got into an argument and as F hovered over her in a very threatening manner, Mrs. T shoved him away. Unbelievably, he picked up the phone and called 911 and claimed he had been struck by his Mother. The police responded and F told them that his mother had slapped him in the face. The police decided to arrest Mrs. T. She and her husband protested. A sergeant from the police station came to the house and ultimately it was decided that F would leave the house and that Mrs. T would not be arrested but rather would be summonsed to court for a Clerk-Magistrate Hearing.

Mrs. T consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. It was obvious to anyone with any common sense that Mrs. T had NOT committed any criminal offense. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained the police reports and then contacted the police prosecutor. Attorney Lewin  gave the police prosecutor the true picture of the case and that it was the son, not the mother, who had been the aggressor here.

On August 15, 2018 Mr. and Mrs. T and Attorney Lewin appeared for a hearing before the Clerk-Magistrate of the Haverhill District Court. Attorney Lewin explained all the circumstances of the case to the Clerk-Magistrate and requested that the Application for a Criminal Complaint for Assault & Battery against Mrs. T be denied. The Police Prosecutor and the Clerk-Magistrate agreed with Attorney Lewin’s request and the Clerk-Magistrate denied the application for criminal complaint against Mrs. T.

XN, a 54 year old union executive from Dracut, lives in a condo with two women (AL and RR). The women are lesbians but he is their roommate/landlord with benefits. On April 24, 2018 XN had been out during the day with one of the women (RR) and then the two of them returned to the condo to find the other woman (AL) highly intoxicated and out of control. A fight broke out between the two women. XN tried to break up the fight and then called 911 to get AL, the drunken woman, out of the condo. The police responded to XN’s 911 call. Upon arrival the police spoke to AL. She told police that she had been attacked by XN. She said that XN had barged into the women’s bedroom and began punching and scratching AL. She further told the police that XN “grabbed her around the neck with his hands and began strangling her”. The police observed multiple scratch marks on AL’s face and two large bruises on her neck. AL went to the hospital and provided the police with a handwritten statement of what she said had happened. XN was arrested and brought to the Dracut PD. He was arraigned the next morning in Lowell District Court and he was released (fortunately for him) and his case was continued for a pre-trial hearing to May 30, 2018. XN had retained a lawyer but did not feel the Attorney was giving XN and his case the time and attention it warranted.

XN met with Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover and retained Attorney Lewin. Attorney Lewin immediately obtained a copy of the 911 call that XN had made to the police. He also obtained copies of all the photos that the police had taken of AL. XN was adamant in his denial of any wrongdoing. Attorney Lewin met with RR, the third roommate, and she confirmed to Attorney Lewin that XN had done nothing to AL on April 24. She confirmed that AL had self inflicted the scratches on her face and the two bruises on her neck. A handwritten statement from AL recanting her allegations against XN was received by Attorney Lewin and was furnished to the District Attorney’s Office. In addition a handwritten statement from RR recanting her allegations against XN was received by Attorney Lewin and furnished to the District Attorney’s Office.

On May 30, 2018 a trial date of July 24, 2018 was set down.

On November 30, 2017, SO, a 32 year old pipe-fitter from Methuen, MA, got into an argument with his live-in girlfriend. She began to break things in their apartment and then she attacked him. HE called 911 and asked that she be removed from the apartment. The Methuen police responded quickly to the apartment. According to the police report she told the police that SO had grabbed her by the throat and dragged her out of one room and into the kitchen where he proceeded to hold her down on the floor. When he finally let her up, the police report continues, he blocked her way in the apartment. SO told the police that she had smashed a picture frame and he denied ever grabbing her or holding her down. The police arrested SO and charged him with one count of Domestic Assault & Battery. On December 1, 2017 SO was arraigned in Lawrence District Court and his case was continued to January 19, 2018 for a pre-trial hearing.

SO met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. It was obvious to Attorney Lewin that the girlfriend had a Fifth Amendment Privilege not to testify. She had committed at least two crimes: smashing the picture frame (malicious destruction to property) and assault and battery (she had struck him). Attorney Lewin met with the girlfriend and explained the workings of the Fifth Amendment Privilege. She told Attorney Lewin that she did not want to testify and would exercise her privilege. Attorney Lewin then went and met with the Assistant District Attorney. As is their custom, the DA’s Office refused to commit to dismissing the case at the pre-trial hearing on January 19, 2018. The DA always prefers to continue a domestic assault & battery case to the trial date. Their hope is that the complainant (the girlfriend in this case) will have a change of mind and will decide to testify.

On January 19, 2018 SO, Attorney Lewin, and the girl-friend appeared in the pre-trial session at Lawrence District Court. Attorney Lewin told the Judge that the complaining witness was present in the Courtroom and that she had a valid claim of a Fifth Amendment Privilege and that she wished to exercise her Fifth Amendment Privilege. The Judge appointed a lawyer to speak with the complaining witness. The District Attorney objected. The DA pointed out that the case was not on for trial but was scheduled for pre-trial; the DA pointed out that the complaining witness could change her mind between the date of the pre-trial and the trial date. Attorney Lewin argued that the complaining witness had taken the day off from work to come to court, that the complaining witness was resolute that she did not want to testify and that she would exercise her Fifth Amendment privilege. Attorney Lewin argued that it would be a waste or everyone’s time and resources to make everyone come back to court on a later date to do what could be done on January 19. The Judge agreed with Attorney Lewin. The Judge accepted the girlfriend’s exercise of her Fifth Amendment Privilege and the Judge then asked the DA if they could go forward with the case without the testimony of the girlfriend. The DA reported they could not. The Judge then ordered the case dismissed.

On August 9, 2017 UL, a 36 year old building contractor from Andover, was at home with his wife and children. The kids were asleep and UL and his wife got into an argument. UL’s wife was sitting on a couch in the family room of their home. UL, a very large and strong man, picked up the TV controller and threw it. The controller hit a window behind where UL’s wife was sitting and caused the window to smash. UL’s wife picked up the phone and dialed 911. The police responded. UL admitted throwing the controller. According to the police report UL told the police that he threw the controller at his wife. The police arrested UL and he was brought to the station. The police charged UL with Assault by means of a dangerous weapon (a felony). He was brought to Lawrence District Court the next morning. He was arraigned and released. His case was continued for a pre-trial hearing to September 25, 2017.

UL contacted and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover, MA. It became apparent to Attorney Lewin that UL had never intended to strike his wife with the controller. It also became apparent that he did not throw the controller at his wife nor did he ever intend to put her fear of being hit by the controller. A close look at the physical evidence showed that UL’s wife was sitting to the far left of the couch in the family room. UL was standing relatively close to his wife at the time he threw the controller. The controller broke a window to the right of the couch. It became clear that the controller was not thrown at her or towards her.

On September 25, 2017 Attorney Lewin and UL went to Lawrence District Court for the pre-trial hearing. Attorney Lewin spoke with the Assistant District Attorney about the case and showed her the physical evidence and how the physical evidence did not line up with any intent to hit his wife or to place her in fear of being hit. September 25, 2017 was a pre-trial court date, not a trial date. It is most unusual for the District Attorney’s Office to agree  to dismiss a domestic assault case at pre-trial. They almost always wait for the trial date. In this case however, the Commonwealth’s evidence showed that UL had not intended to hit his wife or put her in fear of being hit. The DA agreed to dismiss the case. The case was called and UL and Attorney Lewin went before the Judge. Attorney Lewin explained to the Judge that he and the Assistant District Attorney had conferenced the case and that based on the evidence the Commonwealth would be requesting a dismissal. The DA agreed and the Judge ordered the case dismissed.

KD, a 50 year old electrician from Plaistow, NH, had been in an on again off again relationship with a woman from Pepperell, MA. She had a serious alcohol problem and every time he would break off the relationship she would do something crazy. On one occasion she reported to the police that he had sexually molested his 16 year old daughter who lived with him (he had legal custody). As a result of that report he was investigated by the police and the Department of Children & Families. He was completely cleared of those allegations. In the late fall of 2016 they broke up. On a night in February of 2017 she called him and told him that she had no food in the house and that she needed him to repair an electrical outlet for her. He told her he would come over to her apartment and that he would bring in Chinese food to eat and that he would fix the electrical outlet. KD went to her apartment (3rd floor walk-up) and brought  in a dinner of Chinese food and his electrical tools to fix the outlet. When he arived he put the food down on the table and went to fix the outlet. She had been drinking and she began to accuse him of sleeping with her sister and with whores. He picked up his tools and headed for the door. According to the police report she was standing in the doorway at the top of the flight of stairs from the third floor to the second floor when he shoved her down the stairs causing her to fall and break her ankle. The police report continued that he then stepped over her and left her there laying on the second floor landing with a broken ankle. A tenant on the second floor heard the noise and then came out onto the second floor landing and saw her laying on the floor in pain with a broken ankle. The police were called and responded to her apartment. The police took her statement and then called him and told him to report to the Pepperell Police Station. He refused. The police said they would get a warrant for his arrest.

The next morning KD went to Ayer District Court. He was booked in to Probation and then went into the Courtroom. She was present and had filed for an Abuse Prevention Order. After a lengthy hearing the judge denied her request for an Abuse Prevention Order. KD was arraigned. Bail was set at $2,500.00 which KD posted and the case was continued. KD then retained Attorney Robert Lewin of North Andover, MA to defend him in the Assault & Battery case.

In the meantime KD applied for a restraining order in NH against her. The order was granted and the girlfriend was served with the order. Thereafter she began calling him and texting him in violation of the order. As a result two criminal charges against her for Violating the Restraining Order were taken out in court in NH.

On April 27, 2017, WO, a 26 year old warehouse worker from Haverhill, MA was arrested and charged with Domestic Assault & Battery on his girlfriend. WO works second shift at a warehouse and he got home on April 27, 2017 from work at about midnight. His girlfriend (who is also the mother of his two children) was asleep as were the children. WO suspected that she had been communicating with an old boyfriend. WO took his girlfriend’s cell phone and began to read through her recent text messages. Sure enough WO found intimate text conversations between his girlfriend and her (former) boyfriend. According to the police report WO went into the bedroom and woke his girlfriend up and pulled her out of bed and then proceeded to literally physically “throw” her out of the house. She ran to a local convenient store down the street and called 911. The police responded and then went into the house and spoke with WO. According to the police report WO told the police that yes he had woken her up but that when he confronted her about the text messages she struck him in the face and then he told her she had to leave. He denied striking her; he denied physically “throwing” her out of the house. Needless to say the police arrested WO.

WO consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. Attorney Lewin took a very detailed statement of the facts from WO. Attorney Lewin then set up an appointment to speak with WO’s girlfriend alone. She indicated to Attorney Lewin that she did not want to testify in the case against WO. Attorney Lewin explained that because she and WO were not married she did not have any spousal privilege to refuse to testify against WO; in other words that if she were called as a witness she could be forced to testify. Attorney Lewin also pointed out to the girlfriend that the police report stated that (according to WO) she had struck WO in the face. Attorney Lewin explained that this would provide her with a basis for exercising her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.

WO’s case was set down for trial on August 22, 2017. Just before the trial date WO began to fear having a trial. He was afraid he would be convicted and sent to jail. Attorney Lewin explained that it was most unlikely that the case would go to trial because his girlfriend was going to exercise her Fifth Amendment privilege not to testify and Attorney Lewin was confident that the Judge would uphold the girlfriend’s exercise of the privilege. Attorney Lewin felt that without her testimony it would be very difficult for the state (the Commonwealth) to go forward.

TD, a 52 year old machinist from Haverhill, is married with two children. On June 4, 4017 TD and his wife and children went to a Burger King for lunch and then to the movies at the Loop in Methuen. TD works third shift and typically goes to sleep around 1-2:00 pm. When they all left the movies his wife said they had to go to the supermarket. TD reminded her that he had to go to sleep to be able to get up to go to work. An argument broke out between the two of them; she was driving the family car and she began to poke TD with her right hand. He put his hand up to block her and pushed her right hand away causing it to bruise. She drove to the Haverhill Police Department and went inside and reported to the police that her husband had just assaulted her. The police came out of the station and questioned TD and then arrested him and charged him with a domestic assault & battery. His wife also took out an emergency restraining order against him. The next morning TD appeared in Haverhill District Court; his wife was also present. Her temporary restraining order was extended for one year and TD was ordered out of the house. He was arraigned on the assault & battery charge and that case was continued for a pre-trial hearing to a date in July.

TD then met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. Attorney Lewin took a very detailed statement of the facts from TD. It was apparent that TD’s wife had herself committed an assault and battery against TD. TD went and applied for a criminal complaint against his wife. This leveled the playing field in this battle between TD and his wife. It was clear that TD’s wife would not exercise her marital privilege. She wanted to testify and she wanted the case against him prosecuted. By TD’s applying for a criminal complaint against his wife, she was now at risk of being prosecuted herself.

TD’s case was then continued for trial to September 26, 2017. On September 26, 2017 TD and Attorney Lewin appeared in Court ready for trial. When the case was called Attorney Lewin told the Judge that there was a criminal proceeding pending against TD’s wife and that she had a Fifth Amendment privilege not to testify in this case. At Attorney Lewin’s urging the Judge appointed a lawyer to speak with TD’s wife and explain to her that if she did testify in the case against TD she could very well incriminate herself. After about 30 minutes of consulting with the court appointed lawyer TD’s wife decided that she would not testify against her husband. The Assistant District Attorney then announced that without her testimony the DA’s Office could not go forward. Attorney Lewin then requested that the criminal charges against TD be dismissed. The Judge then ordered the case dismissed.

On January 28, 2017, SI, a 49 year old federal employee living in Malden with his wife and two children, went out and had a few drinks. When he came home he went into his 18 year old son’s room and asked his son to put his Xbox down and clean his room. The son told SI that he would do it tomorrow. Well, tomorrow never comes. SI and his son got into an argument. SI grabbed the Xbox and broke it. The son told SI to go f— himself. According to the son, SI grabbed the son and pushed him into the wall. SI’s wife called 911 and the police responded. SI got arrested and charged with Assault and Battery on a Household Member. SI went to court and was arraigned and then met with Attorney Robert Lewin. Attorney Lewin had represented SI in a similar case in 2014. In that prior case Attorney Lewin was successful in not having a criminal complaint be issued against SI and in proceedings with the Department of Children and Families Attorney Lewin was successful in getting the Department to unsupport an allegation of abuse. The present case raised the issue of the right of a parent to use reasonable force to discipline a child. In a 2015 decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial court ruled for the first time (in its 213 year history) that a parent may use reasonable force to discipline a minor child. The Court did not decide if a parent can use reasonable force to discipline an adult child. Attorney Lewin fully prepared a legal argument to advocate on SI’s behalf that a parent has the right to use reasonable force to discipline an 18 year old child.

On June 21, 2017 Attorney Lewin and SI appeared in Malden District Court. The case was called for trial and Attorney Lewin answered that the Defense was ready for trial. The DA folded and the case was ordered DISMISSED. SI walked out of Malden Court a very happy client (for the second time).

On January 14, 2017 DM, a 28 year old male social worker, met his 28 year old girlfriend after she finished work as a waitress. They met at a bar in Salem. They had a few drinks and then moved to a second bar where the drinking continued. At closing time they left the bar and after picking up roast beef sandwiches headed back to DM’s apartment in Beverly. They had recently made a commitment to one another that they would not see other people romantically and they both stated they wanted to make a real go of the relationship. They arrived at DM’s apartment, went in, and began to eat their sandwiches. It was a good night; but then the girlfriends phone started buzzing. It was 1:30 in the morning. DM grabbed the phone and ran into the bathroom and locked the door. He looked at the most recent string of text messages and they were from a man that the girlfriend had been seeing. He knew she was not being sincere with him. DM was angry and hurt and came out of the bathroom and demanded that she leave. The girlfriend grabbed DM’s Christmas tree and threw it to the floor causing it to break. She then grabbed the corner of DM’s wide screen TV. DM ran over and grabbed the other corner of the TV. The girlfriend claimed that DM then pushed her down a flight of stairs. DM claimed she tripped and fell down the stairs. In any event she did end up down the stairs and her teeth had actually punctured through her lower lip. There was blood on her clothes and on the wall. She got up an left the apartment. She drove herself to the hospital. Her lip was sutured and photographs were taken of her face and lip. The hospital report stated that she was intoxicated and reported that her blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit.

The next morning she went to the Beverly Police and reported the incident. The police obtained a warrant for DM’s arrest and he was taken into custody and arraigned in Salem District Court and held on $1,500.00 bail. His family posted the bail and he was released.

DM consulted with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from North Andover. Attorney Lewin and DM went over the facts of the case in great detail. DM was able to get a picture of the broken Christmas Tree and the damaged television. Photos were also taken of the location of the television right at the top of the stairs. Attorney Lewin pointed out to DM that his girlfriend had a Fifth Amendment privilege to not to testify. If she did testify she could incriminate herself in no less than three crimes: malicious destruction of the Christmas tree, malicious destruction of the television, and operating under the influence. Attorney Lewin went to the Court and filed a Motion for permission to contact the girlfriend. (The Judge, at DM’s arraignment, had ordered DM to have no contact – directly or indirectly – with the girlfriend.) The Judge granted Attorney Lewin permission to contact the girlfriend. Attorney Lewin did contact the girlfriend and explained to her how her testifying against DM could put herself in trouble. Attorney Lewin followed up the phone conversation with a letter to the girlfriend explaining in detail her Fifth Amendment privilege not to testify in the case.

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