Trevor Brooks and another Hamilton, Massachusetts man along with Camilla Lambert of Manchester will likely be charged in the Ipswich District Court, (now merged with the Newburyport District Court) with breaking and entering with the intent to commit a misdemeanor and attempting to start a fire. According to reports a security guard at Gordon College found the three in the music center on the campus. None of the three are enrolled in the school and when asked what they were doing on the property they made some untrue statements. Apparently and for some inexplicably reason the group lit and eraser on fire. The three denied breaking into the property instead claiming that they gained entry through an unlocked door. One of the three defendants later went to the Wenham Police Station to make a statement about his involvement in the matter.
While there is obviously much missing from this article there stands a very good chance that this case will remain in the district court. The crime of Breaking and Entering With the Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor is a violation of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Section 16A. A conviction for that offense carries a maximum six month house of correction sentence. Attempting to start a fire is prohibited by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Section 5A. This crime is a felony and is punishable by up to state prison. If the defendants do not have criminal records there is a chance that this case will be resolved by a continuance without a finding. That type of disposition in Massachusetts provides a break for the defendant. Here is how that works. The judge will agree to continue the case for a specified period of time. During that time period if the defendant stays out of criminal legal trouble the case will ultimately be dismissed. I would imagine that something along these lines with certain conditions such as community service or restitution is a way in which this case might be finalized.
Attorney Stephen Neyman has been defending Theft Crimes in Massachusetts for over twenty years. If you have been charged with one of these crimes please call us right now at 617-263-6800 or contact us online.