BOSTON, Nov. 26, 2014—About 40 men and women arrested during overnight protests in Boston had their criminal charges converted to civil infractions and resolved today, meaning that the low-level offenses will not appear on their records, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

In the Central Division of the Boston Municipal Court, Suffolk prosecutors affirmatively moved to amend criminal complaints against 18 arrestees to civil infractions prior to arraignment, then dismissed them.  Those individuals ranged in age from 19 to 32.  Twelve were from Boston and the remaining six were from Cambridge, Los Angeles, Newton, Quincy, and Somerville. Twelve were charged with disorderly conduct, four were charged with disturbing the peace, and two were charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing.

One arrestee, SEGUN IDOWU, 26, of Mattapan, declined to have a criminal count of disorderly conduct amended to a civil infraction and insisted upon a trial. He was arraigned, released on his own recognizance, and ordered to appear on Jan. 22 for a pre-trial hearing.

One defendant, FRANCIS DONALD BROOKS III, 30, of Randolph, had prior convictions for assault and battery, making him ineligible for civil conversion and disposition. He was arraigned on a charge of disturbing the peace and the case was then dismissed.

ANTONIE McKOY, 25, of Dorchester had an extensive record and an active warrant out of Quincy District Court. He left the courthouse prior to arraignment on a charge of disorderly conduct. The court found him in default and issued another warrant for his arrest.

An additional 21 arrestees appeared on disorderly conduct charges in the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court.  At prosecutors’ request, the court converted their criminal charges to civil infractions; one man was additionally ordered to pay $100 in court costs in light of his prior record. They ranged in age from 19 to 27, with five from Boston and the rest from Medford, Newton, Quincy, Salem, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and Holladay, Utah.

In the Suffolk County Juvenile Court, a 17-year-old female from Boston was charged with delinquency, to wit: disorderly conduct. Her case was dismissed prior to arraignment on the condition that she perform 10 hours of community service.  Another juvenile arrested last night will be summonsed in for arraignment at a later date.

–30–

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