Recent Cases

August 11^th 2014
License Suspended, Operating Motor Vehicle
Client had been charged with operating with a suspended license for OUI. The distinction between License Suspended for OUI and Licensed Suspended is significant. Driving with a suspended license for OUI has mandatory jail term of at least 60 days. Attorney Barabino made the distinction in the law clear to the judge. Although the judge did not send client to jail, he declined to enter proper verdict. The proper verdict was not guilty. After providing client with appellate counsel, the case was brought back to the court and his record amended to the lesser-included offense. In the end, defendant not guilty of the original charge.
RESULT: NOT GUILTY of the original charge, Docket Amended, NO JAIL TIME.

August 7^th 2014
Indecent Assault and Battery Child Under 14
Assault and Battery
Assault and Battery
Client was charged with kissing an eleven year old on the lips and assaulting and beating her as well as assaulting and beating his pregnant girlfriend. As the case was moving though the court system, he was once again charged for assaulting and beating his girlfriend. Via a Martins Hearing, those secondary charges were dropped, leaving the remaining sex related charge and the remaining assault and battery to argue. The girlfriend had been adamant that nothing physical occurred when she was interviewed by police and kept that position right up to the day of trial. At the day of trial, the young woman who was the complainant of the sex charge did not appear for court and the girlfriend who was now the defendant’s wife asserted her marital privilege, leaving the cases dismissed. The sex charge would be a required sex offender registration with the sex offender registry, but since it was dismissed, that will never occur. All charges dismissed.
RESULT: ALL CHARGES DROPPED. CASES DISMISSED. NO SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION.

July 24^th 2014
Leave Scene of Property Damage
Leave Scene of Property Damage
OUI - Liquor or .08%
Client was a hard working, truck-driving grandfather. According to police, he smashed into another motor vehicle and a road sign at a parking lot and left without informing anyone. The police investigated and interviewed the defendant at his home. When they interviewed the defendant, he had slurred speech, smelt of alcohol and had a hard time standing up. Attorney Barabino filed a motion to suppress statements made by the defendant, but the judge at an earlier date did not allow the motion. After viewing the scene and interviewing the witnesses, who gave a much different account than the police, a trial was requested. At trial, a judge declared that the Defendant is not guilty. A prior agreement for leaving the scene was generally continued for six months with no admission of any wrongdoing. Client had been an immediate threat and unable to drive since the beginning of the case, but could immediately seek reinstatement from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
RESULT: NOT GUILTY OF OUI/DWI.

July 17^th 2014
Operating Motor Vehicle with Suspended License
Client was a hard working, perfect SAT-scoring engineer, who was simply accruing too many moving violations, which confusingly triggered multiple license suspensions. After clearing up one of the violations in a different court, the above complaint issued, but fortunately he applied for and received a clerk magistrates hearing. The clerk magistrate was diligent, fair, and respectful. He stated that if three months were to elapse without any further offenses, client should expect no complaint to issue. Client appeared with Attorney Barabino and the case was in fact dissed, prior to arraignment, and the paperwork shredded by the court.
RESULT: Application for Complaint DISMISSED, PRIOR to Arraignment.

July 9^th 2014
Resisting Arrest
Failure to Stop for Police
A mother of three was driving her car without a registration when police stopped her. She was aware that her registration had expired and that she had been given a break two days prior by the same police department for committing the offense. The officer became aggressive with defendant and at one point reached into her car. When that occurred, defendant left and drove to her home, which was also a dead end street. She calmly waited at her home, in her car, expecting to discuss with police her concerns when the officers arrived. Suddenly, the officer appeared, grabbed her by the arm, and began the process of attempting to pull her from her vehicle. When he incurred some delay in his attempt to pull her onto the driveway and cuff her, he sprayed her in the face with pepper spray three times. As this was occurring, another officer came and began the process of physically handcuffing her and processing her for arrest. The jury went into a second day of deliberations, considering the various arguments, and asking for clarifications on various legal issues. In the end, they all agreed that whatever force was used by the defendant was reasonable, and agreed she was not guilty of Resisting Arrest. The remaining charge was resolved in a $100 fine.
RESULT: Resisting Arrest, NOT GUILTY After Jury Trial.

June 18^th 2014
Probation Violation/Surrender
Client was a bright young man who required representation for a probation violation. He had several violations. His violations included multiple positive drugs screens—meaning he used drugs in violation of his contractual agreement. He also failed to appear for probation, and additionally, while he was waiting for his final probation surrender, he was charged with another probation violation of assault and battery inside the jail. After months of discussions, the judge said he would release the defendant with conditions. Client stays in jail for nearly four months—but in the end avoids a lengthy state prison sentence and is released from custody.
RESULT: CLIENT REPROBATED, with Additional Conditions. NO STATE PRISON TIME.

June 17^th 2014
Aggravated Assault and Battery on Pregnant Woman
Aggravated Assault and Battery on Pregnant Woman
Aggravated Assault and Battery on Pregnant Woman
Client was charged with Assault and Battery on his pregnant girlfriend. According to police, he had hit her on three separate occasions. Prior to this charge, he was charged with a pending case of indecent assault and battery on a child and other related assault charges. Since those cases were pending prior to this matter, he was held without bail on a 58A Dangerous Hearing and Bail Revocation. At trial, Attorney Barabino requested that the court perform an investigation as to the complainant-proposed testimony to protect his Fifth Amendment rights. After the hearing was complete, client was provided a waiver from testifying, resulting in no choice but a dismissal of his most recent charges and immediate release from confinement.
RESULT: “Martins” Hearing results in DISMISSAL OF ALL CHARGES.

June 12^th 2014
Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
A married insurance professional was suffering some emotional struggles and called police to admit to a criminal act. Upon admitting the act over a recorded telephone call, police went to the home. Upon arrival, police realized that client was intoxicated and emotionally distraught. The case could not be proven without the wife’s testimony and with an expectation that she would not be forced to testify, Attorney Barabino placed the matter on for trial. At trial, the seasoned District Attorney, well versed in the rules of evidence, knew there was simply insufficient evidence to prosecute the case with the wife, as she asserted her marital privilege. Attorney Barabino requested that the matter be dismissed, which the court allowed. Case dismissed.
RESULT: Assault and Battery w/Dangerous Weapon, DISMISSED.