BOSTON, July 26, 2014—State and Revere Police are investigating a shooting that left two people injured near Revere Beach early this morning, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Revere Police, the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit, uniformed State troopers, and specialized State Police units responded to Revere Beach Boulevard following an incident shortly before 2:15 a.m. A 33-year-old man and 36-year-old woman sustained gunshot injuries that were not deemed life-threatening. Both were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and are expected to survive. more »

BOSTON, July 25, 2014—An appellate court today found that the twin brother of a man charged with killing 67-year-old Barbara Coyne must comply with a judge’s order to provide a DNA sample that could help prove that only one of the two could have left behind DNA found at the murder scene, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

In a decision authored by Justice Mark V. Green, the Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a Suffolk Superior Court judge’s finding that the twin brother of TIMOTHY KOSTKA (D.O.B.4/28/85) was in contempt of an order to produce a DNA sample.  He had been ordered to provide a DNA sample that would be used to prove conclusively whether Kostka and his brother are fraternal twins – each of whom has a unique DNA profile – or identical twins with matching DNA.  more »

BOSTON, July 25, 2014—The driver of a sport-utility vehicle that struck and killed 48-year-old Walter Harris in Mattapan last year was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court today following his indictment for manslaughter, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on July 1 returned indictments charging DERVIN HIBBERT (D.O.B. 1/6/61) of Mattapan with manslaughter by motor vehicle and motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence. He was arraigned on those charges, which carry minimum mandatory terms of five years and one year, respectively, today. more »

BOSTON, July 25, 2014—The Suffolk County District Attorney’s independent review of the fatal shooting of Ross Batista by Boston Police revealed that Batista possessed two handguns, had earlier exchanged shots with a rival, and had just fired on responding officers during the encounter on Willowwood Street.

District Attorney Daniel F. Conley notified Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and the public of his findings after prosecutors met with Batista’s family to explain the results of the investigation and inform them that the evidence did not support criminal charges against either of the involved officers. Prosecutors also informed the Batista family that they, their lawyer, and the media would have full access to the investigative file if they wished to review the facts and evidence. more »

BOSTON, July 23, 2014—A Danvers teen who allegedly tried to kill a Department of Youth Services worker while in custody on an unrelated case was held on high bail today at his arraignment, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

PHILIP CHISM (D.O.B. 1/21/99) was arraigned in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court on a youthful indictment charging him with attempted murder by strangulation, assault with intent to murder, kidnapping, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – a pencil and a cinder block wall. In addition to imposing the bail requested by prosecutors, Judge Terry Craven also ordered Chism to have no contact with any witness in the case, including the victim. more »

BOSTON, July 22, 2014—An East Boston couple was arraigned yesterday on charges they beat and robbed a cab driver who refused to break traffic laws in order to get them to their destination, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

KRISTY MORGAN (D.O.B. 6/15/86) and ROBERT CHAMNESS (D.O.B. 11/30/81), both of East Boston, were arraigned in Boston Municipal Court yesterday on charges of unarmed robbery, malicious destruction of property over $250, and assault and battery.  Morgan was additionally charged with resisting arrest and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.  Assistant District Attorney Jessica Erickson requested $2,500 bail for each defendant; Judge Michael Coyne declined to impose monetary bail and released Morgan and Chamness on their own recognizance. more »

BOSTON, July 22, 2014—A Cambridge man has been sentenced to a year and a half behind bars after a jury found him guilty of possessing a loaded firearm in Boston’s Theater District, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

STEVEN BELIZAIRE (D.O.B. 1/27/87) of Cambridge was convicted Thursday of unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm after a jury trial in the Suffolk County Gun Court.  Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Grasso of the DA’s Gun Prosecution Task Force recommended a sentence of two years in the house of correction for unlawfully possessing the firearm. Granting a request by the defendant, Judge Tracy-Lee Lyons imposed the minimum mandatory term of 18 months in the house of correction. more »

BOSTON, July 21, 2014—An East Boston man was arraigned today on charges he set a fire in an alley off of Falcon Street that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a nearby home, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JOHN F. CHERRY (D.O.B. 7/3/86) was arraigned in East Boston Municipal Court on a charge of arson of a dwelling.  Assistant District Attorney Kaushal Rana requested bail of $5,000.  Judge John McDonald imposed $1,000 bail. more »

Human Remains Discovered, but No Public Safety Threat Seen 

BOSTON, July 17, 2014—The investigation into a former funeral home director took a new direction today after search warrants led to the recovery of human remains in a Weymouth storage facility, but authorities see no public safety threat, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said. more »

BOSTON, July 16, 2014—The Dorchester man charged with gunning down 25-year-old Shannon Richardson earlier this year is expected be arraigned in Superior Court next week, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced today.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments on July 9 charging PETER CARVALHO (D.O.B. 8/11/88) with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.  more »

BOSTON, July 10, 2014—A driver was arraigned today for fleeing the scene of a collision with a scooter in Dorchester then crashing into a building in Jamaica Plain, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MANUEL AFONSECA (D.O.B. 9/30/81) was arraigned today in Dorchester Municipal Court, where Assistant District Attorney Brian Brodigan recommended that he be held on $15,000 cash bail and Judge Robert Tochka imposed $10,000. He is charged with leaving the scene of a collision causing personal injury, leaving the scene of a collision causing property damage, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license as a subsequent offense, and civil infractions. more »

Grand Jury Investigation Led to Overnight Arrests

BOSTON, July 3, 2014— Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans and today announced the indictments and arrests of two brothers in the March 1 stabbing death of Christopher Borgella outside a Dorchester hotel.

As a result of continued efforts by Boston Police and Suffolk prosecutors, the Suffolk County Grand Jury on Tuesday returned indictments charging HAROLD COLEMAN (D.O.B. 3/19/88) of Dorchester and SHAWN COLEMAN (D.O.B. 2/26/92) of Boston’s South End with second-degree murder in the 23-year-old Dorchester man’s slaying. Harold Coleman is additionally charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property; Shawn Coleman is additionally charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. more »

Lengthy Term to Begin Only after Sentence He is Currently Serving

BOSTON, July 10, 2014—The serial rapist convicted of attacking two women during a 2008 Allston home invasion has been sentenced to up to 60 years in state prison, to begin only when he completes the lengthy term he is already serving on another double rape conviction, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced today.

MARCOS COLONO (D.O.B. 11/21/77) of Cambridge was convicted June 25 on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and single counts of home invasion and armed burglary. more »

BOSTON, July 9, 2014—The Suffolk County Grand Jury has indicted a 15-year-old juvenile as a youthful offender in a violent assault on a staffer at a Department of Youth Service last month, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The indictments charge PHILIP CHISM (D.O.B. 1/21/99) of Danvers with attempted murder by strangulation, assault with intent to murder, kidnapping, and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. more »

BOSTON, July 9, 2014—The owner of a Brighton bar was arraigned today on charges he undertook efforts to stonewall a police investigation into an underage patron’s critical injury there earlier this year, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JOHN ROGARIS (D.O.B. 5/13/70), who lists addresses in New York and Weston, was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court today on charges of withholding evidence during the course of a criminal investigation, witness intimidation, and two counts of misleading an investigator. Prosecutors, who sought but were denied an arrest warrant after his July 3 indictment, did not request monetary bail after Rogaris walked into court this morning but did ask that the defendant be ordered to provide the Probation Department with a Massachusetts address.  Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson granted the request and released Rogaris on his own recognizance. more »

Boston, July 3, 2014—The Dorchester man accused of killing 42-year-old Orlando Guerrero during a 2012 armed robbery was denied bail at his arraignment today, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

LUIS DIAZ (D.O.B. 8/9/84) was arraigned today in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition in connection with Guerrero’s 2012 shooting death.  Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson ordered Diaz held without bail at the request of Assistant District Attorney Holly Broadbent. more »

One to Be Arraigned Today, One Already in Custody

BOSTON, July 3, 2014—Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today announced murder charges against two suspects in the unrelated homicides of Orlando Guerrero in 2012 and Brianna Bigby in 2013.

As a result of continued efforts by Boston Police and Suffolk prosecutors, the Suffolk County Grand Jury on Tuesday returned indictments charging LUIS DIAZ (D.O.B. 8/9/84) of Dorchester with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with Guerrero’s Dec. 15, 2012, homicide. A warrant for his arrest issued after the indictments and members of the Boston Police Fugitive Unit apprehended Diaz yesterday; he is expected to be arraigned this morning in Suffolk Superior Court. more »