BOSTON, Nov. 28, 2018—Twenty-three-year-old Lodimira DosSantos was shot to death in her Bickford Street home by a former intimate partner in a case of deadly domestic violence, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

“Domestic violence is about power and domination,” Pappas said. “Lodimira’s murder was committed by a man who could not or would not relinquish control over her, even in the very place she should have been safest – her own home.” more »

BOSTON, November 26, 2018—As jury selection was set to begin today in his Suffolk Superior Court rape trial, a man pleaded guilty to charges he sexually assaulted a female acquaintance, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

JEROME HAIRSTON, 49, who does not have a fixed address, today pleaded guilty to rape as a subsequent offense and strangulation in connection with the 2016 attack on a woman inside the home of Hairston’s relative. Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hira of the DA’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit recommended a term of 18 to 20 years in state prison. Judge Elizabeth Fahey sentenced Hairston to six to eight years in state prison followed by four years of probation during which he must have no contact with the victim, maintain his sex offender registry status, and complete sex offender evaluation and treatment. more »

BOSTON, Nov. 26, 2018—The New Hampshire who allegedly threatened mass shootings in calls to at least two Boston bars earlier this month was arraigned today following his arrest in Seabrook last week, District Attorney John Pappas said.

The 16-year-old juvenile, whose last fixed address was in Hampton, NH, was apprehended by Seabrook Police on Friday night. During a hearing at the 10th Circuit Family Division of Portsmouth Court today, he waived rendition proceedings on Massachusetts complaints charging him with delinquency, to wit: threatening to use deadly weapons, threatening to do bodily harm, and a civil rights violation. He was transported to the Boston Juvenile Court, where Judge Peter Coyne set bail at $1,000. more »

BOSTON, Nov. 23, 2018—The two men who allegedly dragged 18-year-old Kemoni Miller alongside their car during a robbery now face murder charges after the young man died of the injuries they allegedly caused, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas and State Police Colonel Kelly Gilpin said today.

Miller died at Boston Medical Center Wednesday morning after four days on life support. Later that day, prosecutors approved murder charges against DEJON BARNES, 18, and KENNETH FORD, 23, who had previously been charged with unarmed robbery for the Nov. 16 encounter that left Miller grievously injured.

The investigation, led by State Police assigned to the Suffolk County Detective Unit with the assistance of Troop H detectives and Boston Police, suggests that Miller had negotiated the sale of an iPhone XS to Barnes online. On Friday night, the evidence suggests, he met with Barnes and Ford on Gallivan Boulevard. The defendants allegedly travelled to the scene in a vehicle rented by Ford’s friend. From the passenger’s seat, Barnes allegedly took the phone and closed his window on Miller’s arm as Ford accelerated at a high rate of speed.

Miller was dragged about half a mile and suffered a life-threatening head injury when he fell from the car. He was transported to Boston Medical Center but never regained consciousness.

Utilizing cell phone records, text messages, witness statements, video footage, and other evidence, investigators identified Barnes as the individual who had offered to buy the phone from Miller and Ford as the driver of the vehicle that dragged him. State Police arrested both men at a party in the West End early Sunday morning.

Barnes and Ford were initially charged with unarmed robbery and held on $100,000 cash bail each at their Nov. 19 arraignments. Their arraignments on the murder charges have not yet been scheduled. They are expected to return to court on Dec. 4 with attorneys Jeff Chapdelaine and Jeff Garland.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

BOSTON, November 20, 2018— An East Boston woman has been charged with drunk driving in connection with a weekend crash that left a scooter operator critically injured, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

MARCELLA CASTIELLO, 32, of East Boston was arraigned yesterday in Boston Municipal Court on charges of operating under the influence of liquor causing serious injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation. Judge Tracy-Lee Lyons imposed bail of $1,000 – the same amount Castiello had posted following her arrest early Sunday morning – and ordered Castiello not to drive while her case is pending. more »

DA Sought Defendant’s Release on Personal Recognizance Last Week

BOSTON, Nov. 16, 2018—One week after they asked a judge to release him from jail on personal recognizance, Suffolk County prosecutors today filed paperwork withdrawing the murder case against KEVIN WILLIAMS, 21, who was charged last month with the shooting death of 67-year-old Jose Luis Phinn Williams in Dorchester.

Suffolk District Attorney John P. Pappas said the decision was based on a review of the evidence gathered and analyzed since the night of Jose Williams’ homicide and Kevin Williams’ arrest. Pappas said that Boston police and Suffolk prosecutors had jointly agreed the case warranted further investigation and that “the ethical step was to withdraw the charges prior to the first scheduled court date as that investigation continues.” more »

BOSTON, Nov. 9, 2018—Suffolk County prosecutors today asked a Dorchester Municipal Court judge to release on personal recognizance the man charged last month in the fatal shooting of Jose Luis Phinn Williams, citing the continued investigation into the homicide.

KEVIN D. WILLIAMS, 21, is charged with murder and firearms offenses in the Oct. 6 homicide at 528 Washington St. The charges remain in place and Williams is due back in court on Nov. 19, but prosecutors recommended that he be released while they continue to gather facts and evidence through the Suffolk County Grand Jury. more »

BOSTON, Nov. 9, 2018—A tennis coach was arraigned today on charges that he indecently assaulted a student at a lesson this summer, Suffolk County District Attorney John Pappas said.

ERIC ROSALES, 57, of Allston is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 for the Aug. 8 incident. Assistant District Attorney Khyati Short recommended $5,000 cash bail and orders that Rosales have no contact with the victim or any child under 16, wear a GPS monitor, and surrender his passport if he is released; Judge Myong Joun released him on his own recognizance, granted the no-contact orders, and declined to impose GPS monitoring. more »

BOSTON, November 8, 2018— Three men who undertook the 2016 murder of 41-year-old Shawn Borden were found guilty of all charges this afternoon, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury deliberated for approximately three and a half days before finding TYSHAWN CUMMINGS, 23; TYSHAWN SANDERS, 20; and JAMARI MANNING, 23, guilty of first-degree murder under the theory of deliberate premeditation. Jurors also convicted the three men of unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm. All of them face a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole – the mandatory term for first-degree murder. more »

BOSTON, November 5, 2018—Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas last week welcomed a group of officials from the Philippines as they begin a month-long fellowship focused on improving the prosecution of government corruption.

Attorneys Maria Janina J. Hidalgo, Czarina May C. Altez-Domingo, and Melissa Christina S. Santos of the Filipino corruption investigation agency Office of the Ombudsman on Friday met with Pappas and members of his Special Prosecutions Unit, which prosecutes white-collar crime and offenses committed by public employees. The visiting attorneys arrived in Boston last week for a month-long International Justice Sector Education Training Fellowship through a program of the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative. The program aims to help the group gain the knowledge necessary to help their government develop reforms to enhance the efficiency and impact of corruption prosecutions. more »

BOSTON, November 5, 2018— An annual Domestic Violence Awareness fundraiser hosted by Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas and his staff last week raised $2,800 to support services for victims.

Now in its fifth year, the fundraising event held Thursday night at Bell in Hand Tavern supported Casa Myrna Vasquez, Inc., which provides shelter and services for victims of intimate partner violence and their children and responds to nearly 25,000 calls each year through the statewide domestic violence hotline SafeLink. more »