Recent Cases

June 15^th 2023
OUI 1^St Offense
A very pleasant young woman with no prior record was accused of operating under the influence of alcohol. According to police in or about 2:45 a.m. client was operating her vehicle at a high rate of speed (50 mph in a 25 mph). The vehicle then traveled approximately 100 yards in the wrong lane of traffic when the vehicle was then stopped. Upon being stopped, the officer smelled the odor of alcohol and when asked they admitted they were at “the bar”. Also, an admission of 4 alcohol drinks. When asked she gave her inspection report and license and not her registration and license as requested. She was asked to perform field sobriety test and according to the officer failed the test. Also, the police were observant and noticed a freshly discarded drink which is presumed to be an alcoholic one like the empty one inside the vehicle. However, the police also mentioned the client was cooperative and our viewing of the booking video demonstrated a high level of sobriety. Giving everything on balance client choose to accept a plea deal that would ensure that she would not be exposed to a conviction and did receive a continuance without a finding. This continuance without a finding provides that if she completes one year of probation then this case will be dismissed. Also, as part of the agreement, she receives both civil violations as a not-responsible—protecting her from even higher insurance bills and surcharges.
RESULT: OUI 1^st Plea

June 15^th 2023
(Felony) Vandalize Property (2 counts)
A very pleasant young single mom was accused of vandalizing a vehicle of an ex-partner and acting unpleasant and unwelcoming to the prior partner and the prior partner’s new girlfriend. There had been a variety of allegations between the parties. The prior relationship was tumultuous, and the breakup had not gone well. According to police, the “vandalism” was writing expletives in erasable marker on the vehicle of ex-partner. Even though it was erasable, it was sufficient to obtain a summons by police for vandalism. The client was arraigned and then hired Attorney Barabino. Together they began a detailed background of the client and review of strategy and approach. Whereas the client had no prior record and the charge qualified for judicial diversion which would force a dismissal of the matter, they began to draft a petition. The petition for judicial diversion included a motion and memorandum of law, as well as a background memorandum of the client. Also, included was an affidavit of Attorney Barabino outlining the remedial programs that he would have her attend (virtually). At the next court appearance, the District Attorney reviewed the petition and agreed they would simply let her leave court, no admission of wrongdoing or guilt and they would dismiss it in 180 days. The process is called pre-trial probation or a general continuance. That was an easy decision as it assured dismissal of the felony charge, admitted to nothing, and does not have to do any program.
RESULT: Felony Vandalism Dismissal

May 31^st 2023
Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
Reckless Endangerment of a Child
Disorderly Conduct
A pleasant hard-working dad took the day off to spend with his two young children. When this person is not drinking, he is as diplomatic, polite and responsible—however add alcohol to him and the decency, charm and judgment vanishes---rapidly. According to police, he was at an ice cream establishment and bar, and he was intoxicated. Client was refused service due to his intoxication and arguing with people around him. The police stated that the children’s diaper had feces on them as well as on the child’s legs. Client began berated the police with vile names causing increased concern for law enforcement. Moreover, client was holding his children. Eventually, client took his hand and pushed the officer which was assault and battery. He was arrested. Client had had past operating under the influence and the family testified that they had a variety of concerns. The mother of the children took out a restraining order as well. Client and Attorney Barabino worked for nearly a year. Eventually, getting the restraining order dismissed. Client committed to sobriety and passed 100% of his alcohol screens, he submitted a hair follicle test which was clean and remained employed. At the plea, that information was submitted with a disposition memorandum. At the hearing, the Commonwealth had already agreed based on past discussion to dismiss the Assault and Battery charge. Eventually, the judge decided that the two remaining charges can be dismissed after a one-year period of time and a admission to sufficient facts. Also, three months of additional drug and alcohol screens.
RESULT: Assault and Battery of Police Officer Dropped.

May 30^th 2023
Larceny from a Building
A super pleasant hard working all around good guy was charged with Larceny from a Building. According to the police, client was seen on video at a grocery store. On the video it appears to show the client in a checkout line (empty) where he sees a wallet in the open with no apparent owner. That moment the client had a brief lapse of judgment and did what he knows he should not have done. He picked up the wallet, took out the one hundred dollars inside and placed the wallet back down. He was seen doing this on video and because of the location of the wallet and the circumstances, the police charged the defendant with the Felony charge of Larceny from a Building, which, as a felony does not qualify for a clerk magistrate hearing which is like a pre-hearing to determine if the charges should proceed. Also, he did have a prior felony conviction from his youth. However, Attorney Barabino and client went to work and developed a detailed background memorandum of the clients outstanding life, post his earlier criminal record from when he was a young man. Also, we developed a detailed legal memorandum as to why based on the actions and fact that this should be charged with larceny and not felony larceny. On the day of arraignment, client was most fortunate that he found a particularly thoughtful and reflective district attorney who postponed the arraignment so it would not appear on his record and over the course of three court dates, concluded that restitution with no arraignment will be the outcome given all the factors involved.
RESULT: Felony Larceny from a Building Dismissed PRIOR to Arraignment.

May 4^th 2023
Clerk Magistrate Hearing
Breaking and Entering for a Misdemeanor
A hard-working young professional was walking home from a bar when he walked into the home of a middle-aged woman at around 3:30 a.m. The woman was clearly and understandably startled. The young man was intoxicated and confused. The police acted quickly, and they interviewed the individual and make the decision that this client was simply intoxicated and confused and had no intent to break into the woman’s home. The woman was kind and allowed the police to use their discretion in what course of action they took. The police filed for a clerk magistrate hearing. In preparation for the hearing, client (on his own) began therapy, Attorney Barabino drafted up a background affidavit on client and his actions that evening. Also, client wrote an apology letter for the woman. In the end, the clerk chooses not to go forward. Client was certainly grateful for this opportunity to not have to put on any future background check that he does not have a criminal record, since, as in this case, when successful in a magistrate hearing, it does not enter on any criminal record.
RESULT: CLERK Magistrate Does NOT Charge Client with Breaking and Entering

May 3^rd 2023
Clerk Magistrate Hearing
Operating with Revoked Insurance
A very pleasant international student was charged with allowing someone to drive his vehicle on revoked insurance. The case had a scheduled clerk magistrate hearing and what came next was the preparation. Often Magistrates are open minded to not issuing the complaint on cases where the insurance is revoked, depending on the circumstances. Some issues are if there was an accident, if the person has a prior criminal record, the facts of the stop such as other criminal offenses and finally, if the person is apologetic and remorseful and that they now have insurance, or the vehicle is not on the road any longer. If all those things are absent then the probability of success goes from high to very high. Here, none of the factors existed and we presented an affidavit that summarized the background and history of the accused, as well as evidence of his licensure and current and valid insurance. In the end, the clerk and the professional state trooper were most accepting of our request not to issue. The complaint does not issue. As a result, the client never has to write on immigration paperwork that he was accused of a crime, or any background check. His record remains clean.
RESULT: Magistrate DOES NOT Issue the Complaint.

April 28^th 2023
Domestic Assault and Battery
Client was a super single mom doing all the right things raising her son. In the process of raising her son she sought to take his cell phone from him. She did take his cell phone but then he tried to get it back from her. She was forced to call the police when he became physical with her in his efforts to retrieve the phone. The police came and arrested mother and not son. It was a worst-case scenario and very scary. Most every police department has a mandatory arrest policy for Domestic Abuse cases and apparently the took the child’s story as more credible. She was arrested and told to report to court the following Monday. Fortunately, Attorney Barabino and client were able to work through the weekend and develop information needed for the arraignment. Whereas it is a domestic there is no diversion, judicial diversion or alternative. However, Attorney Barabino approached the DA with these special circumstances, and he dismissed the “domestic” portion of the Assault and Battery prior to the arraignment and also agreed to put the arraignment off. Over the next several months Attorney Barabino was able to work with the client and Department of Children and Family. That investigation warranted a “Unsupported” determination for physical abuse. Then we filed a judicial diversion since she now qualified. We entered a at home parenting computer program and today the charge was dismissed prior to the formal arraignment which means there will be not entry in any court docket.
RESULT: Pre-Arraignment Domestic Dismissed.

April 14^th 2023
Resisting Arrest
Failure to Provide Identification
Failure to Provide Identification (2)
2 Civil Citations
Client was a pleasant, hardworking father who had just left this child birthday party. After the birthday party, he simply pulled over his licensed and insured motor vehicle. However, as he sat quietly in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, a person, dressed in civilian clothes said they were a police officer demanded his license. Startled, concerned, and confused, he and the person, who ended up being an officer charged him with resisting arrest and failure to provide a license and 2 civil citations. The officer declared that Lawrence was “his city”. In the end, truly disturbing conduct. A petition was filed for judicial diversion and that was taken under advisement and denied. Eventually, a motion to suppress was filed and a hearing conducting which resulted in extracting evidence (via testimony) of this officer. Upon meeting the officer at court, he just as my client described him; indignant, self-righteous one of the worse creep factors in nearly twenty years of practicing. As a disclaimer, I find and overwhelming majority of police officers decent, approachable, and reasonable people. But this officer was disturbing. In fact, this officer stated that he didn’t send a second request for a second charge, but we still question his veracity. In the end, Attorney Barabino was preparing the case for one conclusion, which was a trial. However, client was eager to move away from this area and attempt to see if there was something that he could do to close the case and move on—and not get a guilty conviction or worse. As a result, a plea was struck for client to admit to sufficient facts for two criminal violations where the case will be dismissed in 180 days, and the civil violations are found not responsible. Also, the District Attorney had agreed to a motion to dismiss on 2^nd charge. Also, expungement on one of the two failure to provide ID charge.
RESULT: Criminal Case results in 180 Days Crime Free = Dismissal.