Recent Cases

NO Immigration Consequences for Criminal Conduct

April 14th 2021
Felony False Statement in License Application
Client was super pleasant person. She was charged with False Statement in a License Application. The charge was serious. It was a felony, and a conviction would have lifetime consequences. The evidence against her was strong—particularly strong. In her case, she would also be deported-which was even more problematic since she had strong ties in the United States and was a new mother. Attorney Barabino went to work and as a result of that work, Attorney Barabino drafted a long background memorandum on the client. That memorandum combined with a long memorandum of law and petition for a newly enacted first-offender judicial diversion. At the initial hearing, the District Attorney opposed the petition. But after Attorney Barabino’s argument for the program, the Judge agreed with Attorney Barabino. After that intensive therapy program was instituted. And today, upon return to court, the judge DISMISSED the charge.
RESULT: NO Immigration Consequences for Criminal Conduct.

Felonies that Never Affect Immigration Status

April 13th 2021
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Assault and Battery over 60/Disabled
Threat to Commit Crime
Assault w/a Dangerous Weapon
Threat to Commit Crime
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Threat to Commit Crime
All around good person and responsible father was charged with a host of crimes. Client was a super patient and super hard-working father. According to his accusers and the police, he was drinking heavily and got into an argument with his fellow roommate(s). Words were exchanged and eventually those words became actions. The actual pattern of what occurred when and how gets a little foggy. But in the end, the police believed based on all the statements of the parties that the defendant was the instigator and should be charged as mentioned above. A long nearly year and half later Attorney Barabino and the Assistant District Attorney entered into an agreement for pre-trial probation which isn’t probation at all. Pre-trial probation is an agreement to halt the prosecution in exchange for the defendant accomplishing certain task. In this case a combined anger management and substance abuse evaluation the matter will be dismissed all while keeping the presumption of innocence.
RESULT: Felonies that Never Affect Immigration Status

Motion to DISMISS is ALLOWED, No Complaint ISSUES for Leaving the Scene.

April 8th 2021
Leaving the Scene of Property Damage
All around good person and responsible father was charged with leaving the scene of property damage. According to police, client had been driving a motor vehicle when it briefly collided with another parked vehicle. That other vehicle was able to obtain video identifying client as the driver. Client was summonsed into court and arraigned with the charge of leaving the scene of property damage. He retained Attorney Barabino after the arraignment, and they developed a plan to file a Motion to Dismiss of the charge based on a procedural challenge. A hearing was scheduled, and the motion was ALLOWED, by the court. Eventually, the court issued a show cause hearing at which time, Attorney Barabino advocated for client, at that hearing, the charges were DISMISSED in the entirety.
RESULT: Motion to DISMISS is ALLOWED, No Complaint ISSUES for Leaving the Scene.

IMMUNIZED Testimony

March 31st 2021
Federal Grand Jury
Client was an all-around great guy with no criminal history. Client was interviewed by federal agents without an attorney and as a result of that interview a summons to appear before a grand jury was sent to him. When he received the summons to appear Attorney Barabino and U.S. Attorney began the process of discussing the presentment and the background of the instance that required him to appear. After discussion an offer of immunity from prosecution was granted and the Grand Jury testimony was planned and executed. Client cannot be charged for any conduct that resulted in him being asked to appear.

RESULT: IMMUNIZED Testimony

No CARI/CORI ever for Felony Larceny

March 25th 2021
Larceny over $1200.00
Two very pleasant young brothers had a few drinks. According to Police, at some point after a few drinks, the decided to test out a police bicycle that was unsecured. One quick ride became another until they had absconded with the bicycles, very expensive bicycles. Upon committing the act, one brother was harnessed by the guilt of the felonious act went and admitted his misdeeds. The police interviewed that brother and collected all the evidence they needed to make convictions on both brothers. A clerk magistrate hearing was scheduled to determine if probable cause existed and if the case could be resolved. After significant pre-hearing discussion it was agreed that full restitution would bring the matter to an end without the parties having a court record. The matter results in no charges.
RESULT: No CARI/CORI ever.

Young Family Moves Forward with No Criminal Record.

March 11th 2021
Assault and Battery on a Pregnant Person
Domestic Assault and Battery
Client was super bright and pleasant father and husband. Both he and his wife are at the pinnacle of the academic elite. However, they had an incident where the police investigated and charged client. According to police, client had grabbed, or attempted to grab the phone from his pregnant wife-resulting in them wrestling to the ground. After nearly a year of court proceedings, everything being stable with the young family and agreement was struck with the prosecutor. The agreement was that wife would assert her marital privilege and if accepted by the court, dismiss the charges. Today, wife did successfully assert her privilege and the charges were dismissed.
RESULT: Young Family Moves Forward with No Criminal Record.

Young College Graduate Maintains NO Criminal Record

March 10th 2021
Indecent Exposure
Clerk Magistrate Hearing
Client was a young college graduate with no criminal record. A criminal record of any kind would likely have some impact on his future. A criminal record of a sex related charge would likely have the greatest impact. Here, he was alleged to had committed a criminal (sex related) charge of indecent exposure. According to the Police report, client had been out with friends in Boston and drank some alcohol. Then he attended a Bruins game and drank more alcohol. Then after he drank more alcohol, he decided to drink a little more. In the end, there appeared to be a dispute with a bouncer over his intoxication level which resulted in his displaying his genitals. Then he left the bar and displayed those same genitals to the male patrons inside the bar from the sidewalk. Shortly after, a patron from the bar came out and punched client in the face, which resulted in client no longer exposing his genitals. In the end, a summons for a magistrate hearing was scheduled. Attorney Barabino had client attend several AA groups and memorialized that attendance via affidavit. In addition, he drafted and submitted a long memorandum of the clients otherwise lawful reputation and history. The complaint does not issue.
RESULT: Young College Graduate Maintain NO Criminal Record.

U.S. Army Soldier Keep Career

March 8th 2021
Assault and Battery Domestic
Clerk Magistrate Hearing
Client was a career U.S. Army Soldier on active-duty status with over a decade of service. If the complaint issued, his career would be over. According to police, his ex-girlfriend alleged that he struck her at the gym after a break-up. The allegations resulted in a charge of domestic assault and battery. Fortunately, the police filed for a clerk magistrate hearing instead of an arrest or summons arraignment. The police filed for a clerk magistrate hearing which, if we are successful, will never appear on any record—and not impact his career in the U.S. Army. Attorney Barabino and client spent countless hours preparing for the hearing reviewing witnesses and possible testimony. We also collected documentary evidence from social media, and prior police reports. In the end, both parties testified and based on the testimony the clerk magistrate determined that the accuser did not meet her burden of probable cause and the complaint WILL NOT ISSUE.
RESULT: U.S. Army Soldier Keep Career

Trafficking Reduced

March 4th 2021
Trafficking
Client was a young hardworking single mother from out-of-state. According to Police and supported by her plea, she was driving a vehicle owned by someone else. That vehicle was not properly on the road and moving violations triggered a lawful traffic stop. After the traffic stop, experienced police officers noticed what appeared to be a hydraulic drug compartment built into the motor vehicle console. Inside that secret compartment was a large quantity of drugs which supported a trafficking indictment. Also, during the search of the vehicle there were additional drugs found in the backseat. The case moved through the court for nearly three years. During that time there were search warrants executed and a large trove of discovery that was reviewed in great detail. A motion to suppress, was unsuccessful and the case moved toward trial. As the case proceeded, a deal was struck whereby the District Attorney would reduce the charge which requires a minimum mandatory 3.5 years in state prison to possession with intent, which gave the District Attorney flexibility to negotiate. The final plea was 2.5 years in the house of correction, with one year to serve—and no minimum mandatory. The result is that client can expect to be released within 6 months with good time and even sooner if parole board deems her a worthy candidate for parole.
RESULT: Trafficking REDUCED to Possession with Intent.

NO Formal Charges for Assault and Battery Domestic

February 23rd 2021
Assault and Battery Domestic
Client was a wonderfully pleasant man married to an equally wonderfully pleasant wife. According to Police, client was having a nervous breakdown and was engaging in personally harmful behavior and also physical touching on his wife who was the victim in the matter. Client was seen and admitted to mental health hospital, eventually released and engaged in aftercare once released. Also, he stopped drinking and based on the documentary evidence and testimony of his wife, there was an agreement for the charge NOT to be issued. The police did a commendable job that was readily acknowledged by all involved as they showed professionalism and restraint.
RESULT: NO Formal Charges for Assault and Battery Domestic.