» Bill Barabino

Someone called animal control. Or a neighbor called the police. Or a pet died, got hurt, or was taken from your home, and now an officer wants to talk. An animal cruelty charge in Massachusetts is serious. I’ll walk you through what the Massachuset…

What is an inference? A permissible deduction accepted as believable is an inference. In other words, inferences are little steps in reasoning in which a person takes some known information, applies his or her experience in life to it, and then draws…

What is disturbing the peace? Disturbing the Peace is a crime punishable in Massachusetts under M.G.L. c. 272, § 53. A first offensive could result in a fine of up to $150. A subsequent offense could lead to jail time of up to six months and/or a fi…

Maybe it was a loud argument outside a bar. Maybe it was a scene at a game, a party, or a store. A police officer wrote something down, and now you have a notice, a summons, or a court date. The paper says “disorderly conduct” or “disturbing th…

Criminal harassment is a Massachusetts crime built around a pattern of conduct aimed at one person — not a single rude message or one heated argument. Under G.L. c. 265, § 43A, the Commonwealth must prove a series of willful and malicious acts tha…

Many crimes require intent for conviction. Intent means being aware of the natural and probable consequences of an action. Specific intent is a conscious act with the determination of the mind to do it according to Commonwealth v. Nickerson, 388 Mass…