Boston Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

The shooting death of Robert Plaza, 32 of Lawrence Massachusetts marks what the police suspect is the fourth homicide in the city this year and the second in less than a month. The Lawrence Eagle Tribune reports that Plaza careened into a chain-link fence in front of a local assisted living building. When firefighters and concerned citizens attempted to pull Plaza from his vehicle they discovered a gun shot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. The authorities are treating Plaza's death as a homicide and believe it was the result of a "drug transaction gone bad."

If you have been charged with a firearm offense or a drug offense you must contact an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible. In Massachusetts, a conviction for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute in a school zone can result in a commitment to the house of correction or to state prison. A conviction for a firearm offense can result in a defendant serving a minimum of eighteen months in jail.

In order to properly defend against these types of crimes, a good Massachusetts trial attorney often files appropriate pre-trial motions. These motions include motions to dismiss and motions to suppress physical evidence and statements. Successful litigation of these types of motions often result in the dismissal of the charges.