Boston DUI Lawyers Blog

Peabody Police Make Three Drunk Driving Arrests This Past Weekend

Published on: April 18, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

The Peabody Police Department reports that it has made three arrest for violation of Massachusetts Drunk Driving Laws, including that of a Salem man which charges him with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, 3rd Subsequent Offense.

Thomas E. Pelletier, of Salem, Massachusetts, was arrested by Peabody Police Officers for OUI / DUI Liquor. The Peabody Police Department was alerted to look out for a white SUV that was ‘driving erratically’ after the Lynn Police Department apparently received a call about the SUV from another driver. Peabody Police Officers eventually located the white SUV, allegedly being driven by Thomas E. Pelletier, and pulled it over.

It is not known whether Peabody Police also made independent observations that Pelletier was allegedly driving erratically, nor whether he submitted to any Field Sobriety Tests or a Breathalyzer Test. He was, however, taken into custody following his arrest on charged of OUI Liquor, Third Subsequent Offense.

Family Sues Massachusetts Lawyer in Drunk Driving Death of South Hadley Man

Published on: April 15, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

The parents of Frederick S. Kareta, III, have filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts Superior Court against against Craig A. Barton, a Springfield lawyer, who has been charged with several counts of Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges for allegedly striking and killing Kareta.

Attorney Craig A. Barton has been charged in Hampshire Superior Court on several DUI / OUI Charges, including Manslaughter While Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, Motor Vehicle Homicide, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, 2nd Subsequent Offense, and Reckless Driving.

Frederick S. Kareta, III, was struck and killed on August 28th when Attorney Craig A. Barton allegedly swerved onto the property of the home at 75-80 miles per hour. The SUV that Barton was allegedly driving then swerved back to the street after striking Kareta, hit a sign, and then crashed into another car head-on.

Attleboro Man Arrested on 6th DUI Charge Following Mansfield Accident

Published on: April 14, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Michael Vallett, 58, of Attleboro, on his 6th Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charge after rear-ending another car in Mansfield last weekend. He was charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, 5th or Subsequent Offense.

Following his arraignment in Attleboro District Court this past week, he was temporarily held without bail pending a Dangerousness Hearing, as the prosecutor alleged that no conditions of bail would reasonably and adequately assure the safety of the public. After hearing arguments at the Dangerousness Hearing, however, a judge imposed $10,000.

The Massachusetts DUI Crime of Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, 5th or Subsequent Offense, carries extremely severe penalties upon conviction. Not only is the person facing minimum-mandatory jail time of not less than 2.5 years, but he could also face up to 5 years in state prison. Additionally, Massachusetts OUI / DUI Laws for a 5th or Subsequent Drunk Driving conviction also provide for a lifetime loss of the person’s driver’s license; cancellation of the vehicle’s registration plates, and the prosecutor may even seek forfeiture of the vehicle involved.

Massachusetts Mom Arrested for DUI While Driving with Child in Car

Published on: April 12, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Kathleen McCann, 44, of Rehoboth, was arrested this past weekend on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges, including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Child Endangerment While Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, and Reckless Driving.

Rehoboth Police officers stopped McCann’s car after responding to a report from a caller that a woman was driving drunk with her 10 year old son. After catching up to McCann’s car, Rehoboth Police officers allegedly observed McCann driving erratically and pulled the car over.

According to the police, McCann denied drinking and stated that she was coming from a toy store with her son. Rehoboth police, however, allege that McCann showed ‘signs of intoxication’, though no details as to what those ‘signs’ may have been are known at this time.

Bridgewater Woman Arrested on OUI Drugs Charges in Abington

Published on: April 11, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Linda Marie Couite, 46, was arrested on Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charges after allegedly leading police on a short slow-moving pursuit in Abington.

Couite was arraigned in Brockton District Court for Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, Failing to Stop for Police, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Unlawful Possession of Drugs.

According to the dui lawyer handling this case, officers were called to investigate reports of an ‘erratic driver’ driving on Washington Street in Abington. Officers reported that Couite allegedly drove her car the wrong way and into traffic, on the sidewalk, and ultimately collided with another car head-on.

Lynn Man Charged with 5th Subsequent Drunk Driving Charge Held Without Bail

Published on: April 9, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Jorge Soares, 45, of Lynn, was arraigned yesterday in Salem Superior Court on various Massachusetts DUI Charges, including Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, 5th or Subsequent Offense.

Soares was arrested back in December after being pulled over by Massachusetts State Police Troopers for allegedly driving his pickup truck on the Lynnway in Lynn in an erratic manner. After being pulled over, Jorge Soares allegedly failed several Field Sobriety Tests, and then taken to a hospital, where his Blood Alcohol Content was allegedly 0.20%, almost three times the legal limit.

Following his arraignment in Salem Superior Court for Operating Under the Influence, 5th Offense, Jorge Soares was held without bail pending a Dangerousness Hearing later this month. At that hearing, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office will argue that no conditions of bail or release can protect Soares from posing an immediate danger to the community or himself, and should be held without bail pending trial.

Bridgewater Man Arrested in Lynn on 3rd Drunk Driving Charge

Published on: April 8, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Scott Gauthier, 45, of Bridgewater, was arrested yesterday in Lynn on his 3rd Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charge after he was allegedly found to be driving a stolen car.

Gauthier was arraigned Thursday in Lynn District Court on various DUI Charges, including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, 3rd Subsequent Offense, Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, and Receiving Stolen Motor Vehicle.

According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, a Massachusetts State Police Trooper responded to an accident on the Lynnway in Lynn, and was told that one of the driver’s allegedly involved in the accident had fled the area. After a search of the are, the car believed to be involved in the accident was traveling in a nearby Lynn neighborhood and was leaking fluid and had front end damage.

Boston Man Charged with OUI After Leaving Gloucester Bar

Published on: April 7, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Timothy M. Brennick, 48, of South Boston, was arrested on Massachusetts DUI Charges in earlier this week after leaving a Gloucester bar with his girlfriend.

He was formally charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Brennick and his girlfriend, Jannifer L. Paquette, 40, were reportedly in the House of Mitch bar in Gloucester Tuesday evening. After leaving the bar at 10:30, the bartender reportedly called the police to report that the two just left the bar intoxicated, got into a car and drove off.

Massachusetts Police Arrest Man for Driving Under Influence of Cocaine

Published on: April 6, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Michael Pacheco, 34, of Springfield, was arrested on his third Massachusetts Drunk Driving Charge after he was allegedly observed parking his car behind a dumpster at the Indian Orchard Plaza parking lot.

Pacheco has been charged with Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, 3rd Subsequent Offense and Resisting Arrest. He reportedly has been previously convicted of DUI / OUI Charges in 2006 and 2009.

Springfield Police officers reportedly first approached Pacheco because he pulled his car behind a dumpster. As the police approached him, Pacheco allegedly ran, and was later apprehended nearby. Once seized by police and questioned why he ran, Michael Pacheco allegedly stated that he did so because he was drunk.

NBA Star Jalen Rose Arrested for Drunk Driving

Published on: April 5, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Former NBA start Jalen Rose was arrested by Michigan authorities on Drunk Driving Charges after he lost control of his car on an icy road and crashed.

According to police reports, Jalen Rose voluntarily submitted to several Field Sobriety Tests and was then transported to a facility where he reportedly submitted to an Alcohol Breath Test. Rose has since been temporarily suspended from his position at ESPN, where he was employed as an NBA analyst, for not initially reporting his DUI arrest.

As in most states across the country, Massachusetts Drunk Driving Laws do not require a persons stopped on suspicion of DUI to submit to a Breathalyzer Test. You do have a right to refuse a police officer’s request to submit to a breath test, and that refusal cannot be used against you. If you do agree to take the Breathalyzer and blow a reading of 0.08% or above, your license will be suspended for 30 days.