BOSTON, Oct. 29, 2018—A man serving a prison sentence for murder in Montana was arraigned today in the fatal beating six years ago of 45-year-old Normand Varieur, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said today.

KEVIN LINO, 31, was arraigned today in Suffolk Superior Court on an August indictment charging him with first-degree murder. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Julie Higgins of the DA’s Homicide Unit, Clerk Magistrate Edward Curley ordered that Lino be held without bail. more »

BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2018—Three men have been indicted in connection with the shooting death this summer of 29-year-old Christian Rivera on Homestead Street, and two of them were arraigned today following their arrests late last week, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on Friday returned indictments charging DEMETRIUS BENNETT, 27, and ADNAN TAHLIL, 24, with first-degree murder. Both men were arrested late Friday by Boston Police and arraigned today in Suffolk Superior Court, where Clerk Magistrate Rebeca Figueroa ordered them held without bail. more »

BOSTON, October 10, 2018—A longtime member of Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas’ executive staff was sworn in today as a member of the Restorative Justice Advisory Committee created by statute earlier this year.

Director of Community Engagement Kara Hayes, who has served in the Suffolk DA’s office for 30 years, was sworn in at the Massachusetts State House as a member of the restorative justice panel created through legislation that was passed into law this spring. The committee is tasked with reviewing community-based restorative justice programs across the state and making policy recommendations, including performance measurements and training requirements. more »

Faces Sentencing Tomorrow

BOSTON, Oct. 10, 2018—The driver who struck a pedestrian in Chinatown and dragged her from Chinatown to Route 93 pleaded guilty yesterday and faces sentencing tomorrow, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

XIAO YING ZHOU, 47, of Sandwich pleaded guilty to the indicted charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a collision causing personal injury, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the 2016 collision that left the victim, now 51, with life-altering injuries. more »

BOSTON, October 9, 2018—During their separate arraignments today, the men charged in the murders of 19-year-old Terrell White and 63-year-old Jose L. Williams were each ordered held without bail, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

KEVIN D. WILLIAMS, 21, was arraigned today in Dorchester Municipal Court in Jose Luis Williams’ murder and related firearm charges. Also arraigned today in the same court was KAI HARRIS, 27, in connection with White’s shooting death. Harris is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and being a Level 2 Armed Career Criminal based on prior convictions for armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Judge Jonathan Tynes ordered both men held without bail. more »

BOSTON, October 5, 2018— An East Boston man was sentenced to prison today for sexually abusing a young boy as the child slept, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury last week convicted CELVYN MEJIA, 26, of indecent assault and battery on a child in connection with the 2017 assault; jurors acquitted Mejia of assault with intent to rape. During a sentencing hearing today, Judge Robert Tochka imposed a term of three to five years in state prison. more »

BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2019— Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas this week welcomed a visiting prosecutor from Singapore who will spend the next six months observing some of Suffolk County’s most experienced prosecutors as they work.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ang Feng Qian of Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers will complete a six-month rotation with Pappas’ office observing criminal proceedings in the District, Superior, and Appellate courts. Qian’s first three months with the office will be spent within the Homicide Unit, followed by three months assigned to the office’s Special Prosecutions Unit, which prosecutes financial and internet-based crimes as well as offenses committed by public employees. more »

BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2019—Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas testified at the State House yesterday in support of a bill filed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to improve the process by which people are released on bail or held because of their dangerousness.

In remarks before members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Pappas said he supported “An Act to Protect the Commonwealth from Dangerous Persons,” filed last month to update Massachusetts statutes surrounding bail, dangerousness hearings, and other aspects of pre-trial release or detention. more »