BOSTON, Dec. 28, 2017—A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted two rivals of all charges in the shooting death of 26-year-old Dawnn Jaffier as she stood along a Dorchester parade route in 2014, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Jurors convicted WESSON COLAS (D.O.B. 5/25/92) and KEITH WILLIAMS (D.O.B. 7/13/96) of first-degree murder under the theory of deliberate premeditation for their roles in Jaffier’s Aug. 23, 2014, homicide, as well as armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for the non-fatal shooting of a second woman, then 20, a few blocks away. Williams was additionally convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm. more »

Three Others Charged with Related Offenses

BOSTON, December 21, 2017— The man charged in the fatal shootings of Scott M. Stevens, Jr., and Michaela Gingras has been held without bail after he, two family members, and a romantic partner were indicted in connection with the slayings, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

LANCE HOLLOMAN (D.O.B. 1/12/87) was arraigned today in Suffolk Superior Court on two counts each of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a single count of armed assault with intent to murder.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Masai King, Clerk Magistrate Lisa Medeiros ordered Holloman held without bail.

Also arraigned today were MONICKA STINSON (D.O.B. 4/3/80), a Boston Police officer who had a romantic relationship with Holloman, charged with misleading an investigator; Holloman’s sister, LATOYA HOLLOMAN (D.O.B. 10/23/81), charged with witness intimidation; and his mother, DAPHNE HOLLOMAN (D.O.B. 9/15/59) on a charge of misleading an investigator.  They were each released on their own recognizance and ordered to surrender their passports. more »

All Four in Custody on Related Charges; Investigation Still Active

BOSTON, Dec. 20, 2017—The Suffolk County Grand Jury today returned indictments charging four men with murder and related charges in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Joshua Briggs at a Dorchester hotel this fall, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The indictments charge JAMES “SHIZZ” COLEMAN (D.O.B. 10/24/91), JOHN “SPICE” COLLINS (D.O.B. 10/16/93), ERRIN “DUBDUB” CRAWFORD, Jr., (D.O.B. 09/05/88), and MICHAEL “BATS” REYNOLDS (D.O.B. 10/10/93), and with first-degree murder for Briggs’ Oct. 17 homicide at the Holiday Inn Express on Boston Street. The indictments further charge them with three counts each of armed robbery and armed home invasion. Collins and Reynolds were additionally indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm. more »

BOSTON, Dec. 20, 2017—A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted a Westwood man of all charges in a 2015 sexual assault on a woman he had stalked from a nearby supermarket, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Jurors found MICHAEL PURPURA (D.O.B. 6/22/79) guilty of aggravated rape, indecent assault and battery, strangulation or suffocation, unarmed burglary, and larceny over $250. He faces sentencing next month.

“The evidence here was chilling,” Conley said. “The attack was terrifying and the community is safer with the perpetrator behind bars. I’d like to commend the prosecutors and police detectives who built the case step by step, from witnesses to video footage to DNA, but we would never have reached this point without the survivor, whose testimony was so critical to this verdict.” more »

Agreement Mandates Cameras, Sensors, Additional Personnel, and Charitable Donation

BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2017—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today announced that he had reached a compliance agreement with Boston Duck Tours Ltd. and one of its drivers that will help to prevent collisions like the one that claimed the life of 28-year-old Allison Warmuth last year.

“The enhanced safety measures set out in this agreement reduce driver distraction and increase the safety of vulnerable road users on scooters, mopeds, and bicycles,” Conley said. “This is a fair result that incorporates significant input from Ms. Warmuth’s family and leaves all our options on the table in the event of noncompliance.” more »

BOSTON, December 14, 2017— As her killer was sentenced to life in prison today, Lena Bruce’s friends and loved ones recalled the young woman as a “diamond” whose bright future was stolen 25 years ago.

JAMES WITKOWSKI (D.O.B. 11/27/72) faced sentencing today after a Suffolk Superior Court jury on Monday found him guilty of first-degree murder in Bruce’s 1992 homicide.  Judge Mitchell Kaplan imposed the mandatory term for the offense of life in prison without the possibility of parole. more »

BOSTON, December 12, 2017— A real estate broker convicted in April of forging the verdict slip documenting an earlier larceny conviction was arraigned today on new charges of falsely claiming to hold a law degree, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

DAVID SCHER (D.O.B. 11/22/82), formerly of Brighton and currently residing in Newton, was arraigned today in Boston Municipal Court on a charge of falsely claiming to hold a degree.  Judge Sally Kelly did not impose monetary bail in Scher’s newest case, but he will remain in custody for violating his parole on his April conviction on offenses related to the forgery of a verdict slip returned by jurors in Scher’s 2014 trial for an earlier theft. more »

BOSTON, Dec. 12, 2017—The man accused of shooting of 21-year-old Duncan Ketter to death in East Boston was arraigned today on a murder charge and two co-defendants have also been held on high bail, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

THORUS O’BRIEN (D.O.B. 5/16/99) of Brockton was held without bail at prosecutors’ request during a hearing at East Boston Municipal Court today. O’Brien is charged with murder, armed robbery, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm.

Yesterday, a 16-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE was arraigned in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court on a charge of delinquency, to wit: armed robbery and armed assault with intent to rob. His bail was set at $100,000. Another man, DEMETRIUS CAST (D.O.B. 6/2/97) of Everett, aces similar charges as an adult. He was held on $350,000 cash bail and his open bail in unrelated Middlesex County cases has been revoked. more »

BOSTON, Dec. 11, 2017—More than twenty-five years after Lena Bruce was sexually assaulted and murdered in her South End apartment, a Suffolk Superior Court jury convicted the man whose unique genetic profile matched the one in evidence recovered from the crime scene, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

After about three days of deliberations, jurors convicted JAMES WITKOWSKI (D.O.B. 11/27/72) of first-degree murder under the theory of felony murder. He faces a mandatory life term at a sentencing hearing later this week. Jurors did not consider a sexual assault charge because the statute of limitations in place at the time of the offense had expired. more »

New Charges Against Three Others for Actions Allegedly Taken After Shootings

BOSTON, Dec. 8, 2017—The Suffolk County Grand Jury today returned indictments charging a Dorchester man with the murders of Scott M. Stevens, Jr., and Michaela Gingras, and it brought new charges against three others who allegedly lied to investigators or took other steps in the aftermath of those homicides, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. more »

BOSTON, Dec. 7, 2017—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today delivered the following remarks on his office’s Road to Recovery drug treatment and diversion program:

“Today we’re announcing an ambitious new pilot program in Dorchester court to put low-level, non-violent drug offenders on a fast-track to treatment instead of traditional prosecution. It’s called the Road to Recovery project, and it offers meaningful intervention on to persons accused of simple drug possession – helping them in the short term and improving public safety in the long term.

“Addiction is a disease that can be treated. But for years, treatment options have been limited, and even out of reach for the people who need them most.  As a result, law enforcement and correctional personnel too often become the de facto service providers for people with substance abuse disorders.  That’s why I’m so proud to launch this groundbreaking partnership with two agencies that work every day with people suffering from addiction – the Gavin Foundation and the Boston Police Department. more »

BOSTON, Dec. 6, 2017—A former day care worker convicted seven years ago of sexually assaulting a child in his care is due back in court tomorrow after another child came forward and disclosed abuse to authorities, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JUAN R. COLON (D.O.B. 8/13/48) of Hyde Park is accused of assaulting a young girl who attended kindergarten at the Rockwood Early Educational Academy in Dorchester about 10 years ago. He was arraigned Nov. 2 in Dorchester Municipal Court.  His next court appearance, which is expected to be administrative in nature, is scheduled to take place in tomorrow. more »

BOSTON, December 4, 2017—Two men convicted last week of murdering 21-year-old Kenny Lamour as he worked on a Jamaica Plain snow-shoveling crew were sentenced to life in prison today, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

At the conclusion of their Suffolk Superior Court jury trial last week, DONTE HENLEY (D.O.B. 5/18/90) and JOSIAH ZACHERY (D.O.B. 7/13/96) were found guilty of second-degree murder for Lamour’s 2015 shooting death.   Today, Judge Peter Lauriat sentenced each to life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 20 years.  Zachery, who was also convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon, was ordered to serve an additional four to five years in prison, to be served after he has completed the sentence on his murder conviction. more »