Articles Posted in Miscellaneous Crimes

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 278 Section 33E permits

the Supreme Judicial Court to “(a) order a new trial or (b) direct the

entry of a verdict of a lesser degree of guilt, and remand the case to

People often ask lawyers what goes on in a local district court on a given day.  The answer can be lengthy and depends on how busy a particular court might be.  Many local newspapers report a crime log or a district court log each week.  Here is a sample of crimes reported by the Gloucester Daily Times from on September 6, 2008 for the Gloucester District Court.  Read full article Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester District Court Log. 

1.  A Gloucester man was charged with 7 counts of larceny by check.  Apparently he wrote a series of bad checks from November 2004 through January 2005.  A total of 8 bad checks were written over this time period to three separate businesses.  The total amount of bounced checks was $140.54.  The judge agreed to dismiss all charges provided that the man makes restitution in full. 

Larceny by check is defined by G.L. c. 266 sec. 37.  The statute states in part that it is a crime to write a check for goods and to obtain those goods with the knowledge that there are insufficient funds for the payment of the check.  Massachusetts law considers prima facie evidence of intent if the person does not make good on the check within 2 days after having been advised that the check did not clear.