Boston Juvenile Crimes Defense Lawyer
A common misconception is that young people need to be eighteen years old before they can be tried as an adult. In Massachusetts, the age of adulthood is seventeen. A young person under the age of 17 may also be tried in adult court for certain serious crimes, if the Commonwealth elects to indict him or her as a so-called "Youthful Offender."
My main concern for my juvenile clients is for their future. My juvenile clients are just starting out in life -- the last thing they need is to be convicted of a crime as either a juvenile or in adult court. Many of my juvenile clients will be applying to colleges and jobs. An entry on their juvenile or adult criminal record could hurt their chances for entry and/or advancement. For example, among the consequences of a juvenile drug conviction is ineligibility for federal student aid for one year.
I represent juveniles in all types of felony and misdemeanor cases, including:
- Malicious destruction of property
- Underage drinking
- Disorderly person
- Disorderly conduct
- Disturbing the peace
- DUI (called OUI in Massachusetts)
- Minor transporting alcohol
- Trespassing
- Shoplifting
- Larceny
- Drug charges
- Assault
- Juvenile sex crimes
- Murder
In the news recently, we have seen many headlines about a new phenomenom called "sexting," or sending text messages or e-mails containing sexually explicit photographs of yourself or a friend. Believe it or not, some district attorney's offices have begun considering prosecution of teenaged boys for "sexting" nude or semi-nude pictures of their girlfriends via their cellphones. The charge, distribution of child pornography, is a horrifying prospect for any juvenile to face. If you suspect that your son or daughter has been involved in such activity -- and that his involvement may become known to the authorities -- you should contact an experienced and qualified criminal defense attorney immediately.
I recognize that even if I succeed in achieving a satisfactory resolution to a criminal charge for my juvenile client, my client still may face disciplinary hearings in school. I have appeared with my clients before the judicial affairs boards at Boston University, Northeastern University and Suffolk University. I have also dealt with many town and city school officials. I stand ready to handle all aspects of a juvenile's case -- and to ensure that the juvenile's future still remains bright at the end of my representation.
Free Phone Consultation: Contact Boston juvenile crimes defense lawyer David Yannetti.
Recent Juvenile Cases:
January 25, 2010
Dedham Juvenile Court
Docket Nos. FIYO-9Q-0049 through -0052, FID-09D-0020 through -0025, FID-09Q-0035 through -0039
Client, a 16 year-old high school student, was indicted as a Youthful Offender and faced with 31 charges, including multiple counts of Carrying a Firearm without a License, Breaking and Entering, Larceny of a Firearm and Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. The prosecution alleged that Client and two friends broke into one home, stole jewelry and the car in the garage. They then allegedly drove to Client's uncle's house, where they stole 9 firearms that had been locked up in the home. Client gave a full confession to breaking into the first home. If convicted as an adult -- which is generally the purpose of the prosecution when the seek "youthful offender" indictments -- client faced a minimum mandatory sentence of 1 1/2 years in the house of correction. After initially retaining another attorney (with whom they were unhappy), Client's parents hired Attorney Yannetti. Both of Client's friends pled guilty to all 31 charges they faced and both were prepared to testify against Client. Today, despite the strength of the prosecution's case against Client, Attorney Yannetti persuades the prosecutor to dismiss 20 of the 31 charges Client faced. In addition, Client admits to 9 of the charges as a juvenile and is placed on probation for those counts. Client only admits to two "carrying of a firearm" indictments as a youthful offender -- and is not sentenced as an adult. Instead, he is committed to the Department of Youth Services. He therefore will obtain counseling and treatment rather than being warehoused in a prison cell. Client may be released after as a few as six months. Result: Twenty of Thirty-One Charges Dismissed, Client sentenced as a Juvenile and Avoids a Minimum Mandatory House-of-Correction Sentence.
October 23, 2009
Framingham Juvenile Court
Docket No. DL 09-F-0163
Client, a middle-school student, allegedly grabbed and pushed a 10 year-old fellow student at a bus stop. As a result, the boy suffered a broken bone in his arm, lost a tooth and chipped a second tooth. Client was charged with assault and battery. Client's mother hired Attorney Yannetti to preserve Client's clean criminal record. Today, after several months of negotiation, Attorney Yannetti persuades the prosecutor and the judge to place Client on pre-trial probation. Client therefore does not plead delinquent or guilty and admits to no wrongdoing. As long as he completes twenty hours of community service and does not get arrested again, the case will be dismissed with no repercussions for Client's criminal record. Result: Case Dismissed.
August 10, 2009
Framingham Juvenile Court
Clerk's Hearing
Three 14 year-old boys allegedly stole goods from a department store. The parents of all three boys hired Attorney Yannetti to represent the boys at a joint clerk's hearing. Today, Attorney Yannetti persuades both the police officer and the clerk magistrate that the application for complaint should not issue against any of the three Clients, as long as each one completes 20 hours of community service. Clients never appear before a judge. This cases will therefore never appear on their criminal records. Result: Applications for Complaints Dismissed.
July 28, 2009
Dedham Juvenile Court
Clerk's Hearing
Client, a 17 year-old high school student, allegedly stole money from a fellow student's backpack in the school locker room. When contacted by the police, Client's parents hired Attorney Yannetti to resolve this matter. Attorney Yannetti brought his Client into the police station to give a statement and explain his actions. In exchange, the investigating officer agreed to schedule this matter for a clerk's hearing. Today, Attorney Yannetti persuades both the police officer and the assistant clerk magistrate that the application for complaint should not issue against Client, as long as he completes 80 hours of community service. Client never appears before a judge. This case will therefore never appear on his criminal record. Result: Application for Complaint Dismissed.
February 6, 2009
Framingham Juvenile Court
Docket No. DL-08-F-0842
Client, a junior high school student, was charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, a felony, as a result of allegedly participating in a group beating of a fellow student on school grounds. Client's parents hired Attorney Yannetti, who, after months of negotiation, eventually persuades the prosecutor to drop the felony charge. Further, the prosecutor agrees to recommend a continuance-without-a-finding on a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. Over the prosecutor's objection, Attorney Yannetti then persuades the judge to order that Client's probation be "unsupervised," so that he does not need to report to the courthouse every month to check in with a probation officer -- and he does not need to pay the higher fees associated with supervised probation. Client needs only to perform 20 hours of community service and the case will be dismissed in six months. Result: Felony Dismissed, Client avoids conviction on misdemeanor.
August 15, 2008
Framingham Juvenile Court
Docket Nos. DL07-F-0395-397 and DL07-F-0406
On October 26, 2007, Attorney Yannetti succeeded in obtaining pre-trial probation for Client, a 16 year-old girl charged with assault and battery on a police officer and three other criminal charges. Client allegedly violated the terms of her pre-trial probation, however, and her case was put back on the trial list. Client's parents re-hired Attorney Yannetti. Today, Attorney Yannetti succeeds in convincing the prosecutor to allow Client to continue with her pre-trial probation, with the added condition that she perform 25 hours of community service. The judge agrees. This means that Client still does not admit to any crime, and instead needs only to continue with her schooling and stay out of further trouble. The case will ultimately be dismissed with no repercussions for Client's record. Result: Case Dismissed.
March 11, 2008
Dedham Juvenile Court
Clerk's Hearing
Attorney Yannetti represented three Clients before a clerk magistrate on charges of malicious destruction of property. Clients were three high school sophomores who were caught defacing with graffiti the bathroom in a local restaurant. Attorney Yannetti first arranged for a meeting with the police prosecutor, then negotiated with the restaurant manager regarding restitution and letters of apology. Today, Attorney Yannetti convinced an assistant clerk magistrate that no complaint should issue against any of his three Clients. All three Clients therefore maintain their completely clean records. Result: Applications for Complaints Dismissed.
January 4, 2008
Boston Juvenile Court
Docket No. DL07RO536
Client, a 17 year-old high school senior, was charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery as a result of allegedly molesting his 12 year-old cousin several times over the course of a summer. If adjudicated delinquent, he faced potential incarceration and a requirement that he register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Client hired Attorney Yannetti while the case was still under investigation. After a year's worth of work on the case, Attorney Yannetti finally convinces the prosecutor to dismiss one of the charges, and to reduce the remaining two charges to simple assault and battery -- a misdemeanor. Today, Client admits to two counts of simple assault and battery and receives probation for six months. He needs to perform seven days of community service and stay out of trouble. As long as he complies with those terms of probation, the case will be behind him for good in six months. Result: One sex-offense charge is Dismissed, the other two are reduced to simple assault-and-battery and Client Completely Avoids the Sex Offender Registry.
October 26, 2007
Framingham Juvenile Court
Docket Nos. DL07-F-0395-397 and DL07-F-0406
Client, a 16 year-old girl, had a clerk's hearing in February regarding an allegation that she had committed an assault and battery upon a police officer. The assistant clerk magistrate at the time found that probable cause existed for the complaint to issue, but agreed not to charge Client with the crime as long as she stayed out of trouble for six months. Six weeks later, however, Client was arrested outside her parents home with alcohol and cocaine, and allegedly resisted arrest again. As a result, Client was arraigned in court and faced four criminal charges as a result of the two above altercations. Client's parents hired Attorney Yannetti, who advised them to place Client in a therapeutic and secure school out of state. Over the course of several months, Client was treated for newly diagnosed emotional disorders. Today, after advocating for Client with the prosecutor and producing proof of Client's progress, Attorney Yannetti succeeds in convincing the prosecutor to recommend pre-trial probation for Client. The judge agrees. This means that Client does not admit to any crime, and instead needs only to continue with her schooling and stay out of further trouble. The case will ultimately be dismissed with no repercussions for Client's record. Result: Case Dismissed.
Framingham Juvenile Court
Clerk's Hearing
Client, a 15 year high school sophomore, was facing the issuance of a complaint against him for burning a park bench at a local skateboard park. Client's parents hired Attorney Yannetti, who advocates on his behalf with the police prosecutor handling the clerk magistrate's hearing. Today, Attorney Yannetti convinces the clerk magistrate not to issue the complaint -- despite her finding of probable cause. Instead, Client will perform 20 hours of community service and complete a fire-safety course. Client's record therefore remains completely clean. Result: Application for Complaint Dismissed.
Waltham Juvenile Court
Clerk's Hearing
Client, a 15 year-old high school student, confessed at the police station to committing extensive graffiti damage in his home town -- to his school and local businesses. Client's parents hire Attorney Yannetti to negotiate with the police and to represent Client at his clerk magistrate's hearing. Today, Attorney Yannetti convinces the clerk magistrate not to issue a complaint against Client, thus preserving his criminal record. Client only needs to make restitution and perform 14 hours of community service and the application for complaint will be dismissed. Result: Application for Complaint Dismissed.
Boston Juvenile Court
Clerk Magistrate's Hearing
Client, a junior high-school student, was facing a charge of malicious destruction of property as a result of allegedly putting metal objects in the microwave oven at school and causing a fire. Today, Attorney Yannetti convinces the assistant clerk magistrate not to issue the complaint against Client. Result: Application for Complaint Dismissed.
June 27, 2006
Cambridge Juvenile Court
Docket No. YO-F0014-16
Client, a college student, was indicted for three counts of Rape of a Child. Client was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offense, while the alleged victim was 15 years old. They were classmates in high school. Client was indicted as a “Youthful Offender,” so he faced the prospect of having to serve years in state prison if convicted, then having to register as a “sex offender” for the rest of his life after eventually being released from prison. Result: Not Guilty Verdict after trial.
