Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Blog
On March 22, 2022, Methuen Police Officer JK pulled a motor vehicle over for a marked lane violation. JK exited his cruiser. JK’s BWC (body worn camera) was on and recording. JK approached the stopped vehicle on the driver side. As JK arrived at the driver side window, the vehicle took off. The BWC captured an excellent image of the driver. JK ran back to his cruiser and gave chase but the vehicle got away. JK then proceded to do an investigation. He ran the license plate and saw that the plate came back to a NH woman. He then looked at her Facebook profile and saw a friend of the woman who was a dead ringer for the man driving the car. The Facebook profile even had the man’s name! JK then ran the man’s name through the RMV data base and a 58 year old man popped up and his RMV photo matched the BWC image that the officer had captured. That man, GT, had been arrested 12 times for driving after suspension of his license. On his eleventh arrest he served six months in jail. On his 12th offense he served a year in jail (the maximum sentence). GT was no longer living at the address that the RMV had for him and never received a summons to appear in Court. The Court issued a warrant for his arrest and the warrant sat for four years.
GT stopped driving and he cleaned up his act between 2022 and 2026. GT met with and retained Attorney Robert Lewin from Andover to handle this case. On March 6, 2026 GT and Attorney Lewin went into Lawrence District Court and got the warrant cancelled and GT was released without any conditions – other than he not drive unless duly licensed. The DA looked at GT’s prior record and said to Attorney Lewin “this is GT’s 13th offense, he’s looking at the max – a year in jail”. Attorney Lewin asked GT if he had ever taken any of his 12 prior cases to trial. GT said no that he had always pled guilty! Attorney Lewin told GT that this case was going to trial. The case was continued to April 27, 2026 and was ultimately set down for trial on July 21, 2026. Attorney Lewin began his investigation of the case and discovered that JK – the police officer – had been subject to a “POST Commission” Inquiry. This a commission that investigates police who break the law. To GT’s GREAT LUCK, JK was no longer a police officer and it was highly unlikely that he would appear to testify at the trial.
On July 22, 2026, GT and Attorney Lewin appeared in Courtroom 5 in Lawrence District Court. The case was called and Attorney Lewin answered that the Defense was “ready for trial”. JK, the officer, was not present and the DA answered that the Commonwealth was not ready for trial. The Judge looked at Attorney Lewin and Attorney Lewin said “The defense moves to dismiss the case.” The Judge then said “Case DISMISSED”.
GT dodged a 1 year jail sentence. As GT and his wife and Attorney Lewin were leaving the Courthouse, GT gave Attorney Lewin a firm handshake and a big thank you. GT is now in the process of applying for reinstatement of his license.
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.