Jonathan Chadwick, John Curley and William Chadwick have all been indicted by an Essex County Massachusetts grand jury on charges of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from the beating of Justin Goodwin, a gay man who was enjoying an evening at a bar in Gloucester on April 10, 2009. Goodwin was at the Old Timer’s Tavern with his sister. Apparently he tried to defend her at which time the bar’s bouncers escorted him outside. There, he was beaten unconscious by the defendants. Goodwin sustained twelve broken bones in his face. Several plates now hold his face together. The case will be prosecuted in the Essex County Superior Court in Salem, Massachusetts.
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Assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon is a felony in Massachusetts. The crime is codified in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265 Section 15A. While the crime itself carries a maximum ten year state prison sentence there is an aggravated form of the crime that permits a judge to sentence someone convicted to up to fifteen years. Subsection (b) of the statute permits a more severe penalty when the crime results in serious bodily injury. The phrase “serious bodily injury” means bodily injury which results in a permanent disfigurement or a substantial risk of death.
The Law Offices of Stephen Neyman has defended Violent Crimes in Massachusetts such as this for over twenty years. We encourage anyone charged with this offense or any crime in Massachusetts to call our office now at 617-263-6800 or to contact us online.