Massachusetts Street Fights Can Result in Serious Criminal Charges

Street fights in Massachusetts frequently result in criminal charges, and some of those charges are serious, as one recent street fight in Worcester shows.

2012-10-15

SPRINGFIELD, MA, October 15, 2012 (Press-News.org) As long as there have been streets, people have been fighting in them. A street fight can range from a dispute among bar patrons to a fight outside Fenway Park or after a Patriots Game. It could be a fight after a concert at the DCU Center or even a brawl in the streets involving weapons and dozens of people. With all the commotion involved and the ease of scattering when the dispute ends, it may be surprising that street fights can result in serious criminal charges.

But it's true. Street fights in Massachusetts frequently result in criminal charges, and some of those charges are serious, as one recent street fight in Worcester shows.

Reports of Gunshots Lead Police to Teen Fight

The incident began when police were called to a report of gunshots in the Berkley Street area at about 10:20 p.m. on a July night. Witnesses said a group had been fighting, but fled the area.

Twenty minutes later, police were called to Plumley Village for another report of gunshots and a group fighting. They saw teenage boys drive to a parking lot off Thomas Street and begin to fight. As police called for backup, the teens fled. Officers later arrested six teens on suspicion of multiple charges related to street fighting. More than 20 criminal counts were issued as a result of the fight.

Weapons Violation Among Alleged Crimes

Among the most serious of the charges was carrying a dangerous weapon. The two 17-year-old boys arrested on this charge could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison if convicted.

Other charges faced by the arrested teenagers include:

Trespassing, which can carry a maximum sentence of up to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine
Resisting arrest, which can carry a maximum sentence of up to 2 1/2 years in jail and a $500 fine.
Disturbing the peace, which can carry a sentence of up to six months in jail and a $200 fine.
Disorderly conduct, which can carry a sentence of up to six months in jail and a $200 fine.

In situations like this, police often recommend multiple offenses against a suspect, such as disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assault on battery on a police officer. These offenses are often similar, but they are vague enough that all can be charged during one incident. Often, prosecutors offer to drop several charges during negotiations for a plea.

A conviction on even one charge would give the defendants in this case a criminal record that could affect their ability to find employment and housing and could have other negative effects on their lives.

Talk to an Attorney to Learn More About Charges From Street Fights

If you or your child has been arrested after a street fight, consult with an experienced attorney right away. Being charged with a crime does not mean that you will be convicted of one. A knowledgeable lawyer can explain the full impact the charges could have on your life and advise you of potential defenses to the charge.

Attorney Irwin Pollack
Massachusetts DUI & Criminal Defense Group
1 Monarch Place
Springfield, MA 01144
http://www.masscriminaldefenseattorneys.com

[Attachments] See images for this press release:

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

2012 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Recognizes Robert A. Huber

2012-10-15

Robert A. Huber has been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list as one of the top attorneys in Pennsylvania for 2012. No more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are recognized by Super Lawyers for this recognition. Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Attorney Robert A. Huber For over 20 years, Robert Huber has been assisting injury and accident victims. He is an experienced litigator, having tried bench and jury trials involving a range of auto accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice and workplace injury cases. A graduate of Villanova ...

The Evolving Role of Social Media in Criminal Cases

2012-10-15

Every year, online social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube continue to widen the net of information people in New York can share and communicate with each other. As social media's reach has increased, law enforcement is increasingly turning to it in order to solve crimes. Consequently, federal agencies and police departments keep boosting budgets and training efforts geared specifically towards mining social media for clues that will lead to arrests. In fact, social media has become a key investigative tool. Ordering social media companies to shut ...

Traffic Tickets Can Turn Up in the Oddest Places

2012-10-15

We've all tried to avoid them. We've all received them. We've all thought that in some instances they were unfair. Parking tickets: a bane of western civilization. With so many vehicles on the road and so few places to park, it's a wonder that tickets are not issued more often than they actually are. But in some instances, traffic tickets issued seem a bit extreme. What follows are the tales of a few rather unusual citations received. For instance, how many people bother to pay parking tickets 60 years late? One man in Nebraska did. In 1954, a woman received ...

Craftmark Solid Surfaces Discusses Using Different Types of Sinks with Atlanta Granite Countertops

2012-10-15

Craftmark Solid Surfaces would like to discuss the use of different types of sinks with Atlanta granite countertops. There are many different varieties of sinks you may want to use in your home, each with a different purpose. Certain shapes are just going to make sense to have in your kitchen, your bathrooms, your laundry room, and wherever else you happen to have a sink. The one uniting factor is that they can all look a lot more beautiful and elegant surrounded by a granite countertop. To ensure that your sink and countertop stay beautiful, the right cut is critical. ...

Atlanta Pool Maintenance Company Pinnacle Pool Services Explains Common Pool Chemicals

2012-10-15

Atlanta pool services company Pinnacle Pool Services would like to provide homeowners with some basic information on common pool chemicals. The correct application of pool chemicals is one of the most critical aspects of swimming pool care. Chemicals are used to keep water clear, balanced, sanitized, and free from algae. Water balancers are used to keep the pools pH, alkalinity, and hardness and the right levels. Examples of chemicals commonly used to do this include pH increasers or decreasers, alkalinity increasers or decreasers, and calcium hardness increasers. Water ...

Georgia Health Insurance Broker Providence Insurance Group Encourages Immunization Awareness

2012-10-15

Georgia group health insurance broker Providence Insurance Group is promoting immunization awareness, so that people of all ages will be reminded to keep up with their vaccines to protect themselves from serious diseases and illnesses. Though getting all your shots is important all throughout life, early autumn is a particularly important time for children to get their immunizations because it is when they all go back to school. School means exposure to many different people, which is great in most ways, but not so great if you are not protected against the diseases ...

Performance Management Specialist EchoSpan Experiences 100% Client Growth in the Financial Sector

2012-10-15

360 degree feedback software company EchoSpan is pleased to announce that its financial sector client company base has doubled in the past year. This growth has arisen from an increased interest in tools from private equity, investment banks, and consumer banking institutions. EchoSpan has always had a strong customer base in the financial sector because the rapidly-changing environment requires employee performance reviews that are conducted quickly and accurately. The need for 360 feedback fuels the industry's desire to have optimized performance management tools. "When ...

TRC Professional Solutions Sees an Increase in Austin IT Positions

2012-10-15

Austin staffing agency TRC Professional Solutions, a division of TRC Staffing Services, Inc., has observed an uptick in available IT positions in Austin, TX. As one of the nation's most significant high-tech hubs, Austin has traditionally been an excellent location for IT candidates to further their careers and it continues to be an ideal environment for IT professionals. Information technology is a rapidly expanding discipline, so it is no surprise that there is a rising demand for IT professionals in a technological hub like Austin. The Austin branch of TRC Professional ...

Online Degree Portal Universities.com Encourages Educators to Earn a Master's Degree

2012-10-15

Universities.com understands that teachers are often not paid what they're worth when they only have a bachelor's degree. One of the best ways for teachers to get the salary bump they deserve is via pursuing a Master's in education online. Going back to school and increasing your worth to the school district can be easy with the help of Universities.com. The online portal can help you find the Master's of Education online degree program that best suits your budget and time constraints. The company's helpful guides to online universities offer teachers a wide variety ...

The Atlanta Painters from The Painting Company Discuss How to Clean Graffiti

2012-10-15

You've seen it all around town. Graffiti artists tagging buildings with their art and spray paint, which can cost business and home owners to have the paint removed. The Atlanta painters from The Painting Company discuss the various methods of removing graffiti from your building. Cleaning graffiti does not always work perfectly. There is no sure fire way to properly clean spray paint off the walls of a building. One of the more effective ways of cleaning graffiti is to pressure wash the art. Pressure washing can remove some of the paint, but is not always 100 percent ...