Shortly after 2:00 p.m. yesterday a woman walking down a Boston, Massachusetts street was confronted by a man and a woman who asked for a cigarette. The two, later identified as Marie O’Neill and Thomas Slavin then began punching the woman repeatedly. The man then brandished a baseball bat and threatened to hit her with it. While doing so the couple took her pocketbook and fled. The victim chased the assailants and eventually caught up to O’Neill. Slavin took off in a black pick-up truck. A witness captured the license plates with a cell phone camera and police apprehended Slavin shortly thereafter. Inside the pick-up truck the police found the woman’s pocketbook, crack cocaine and marijuana. Both have been charged with armed robbery and possession of cocaine and marijuana.
Massachusetts Man And Woman Arrested, Charged With Robbery, Drug Possession
The most serious charge here is armed robbery. This is a felony in Massachusetts. It is punishable by up to life in prison. This crime is prosecuted in the Superior Court. The Massachusetts statute prohibiting armed robbery is Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 Section 17. Oftentimes armed robbery cases are reduced to larceny from the person and are prosecuted in the district court. The decision to reduce such charges rests exclusively with the district attorney and depends on the circumstances of the act and the defendant’s criminal record.
Stephen Neyman is a Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer who defends drug crimes, armed robberies and all other crimes in Massachusetts and throughout the country. If you have been charged with a crime call our office now at 617-263-6800 or contact us online.
Si usted habla español contacta a nuestro asistente de abogado Maria Rivera en 617-877-6270.