Second Suspect Charged in Mission Hill Drug Robbery

A second suspect has been charged in an apparent drug-related home invasion on Sewell Street last month, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MICHAEL FINKLEA (D.O.B. 12/9/90) of Mission Hill was arraigned yesterday in West Roxbury District Court on charges of home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – specifically a glass bong – and unlawful possession of a firearm. Prosecutors recommended that he be held on $5,000 cash bail; Judge Patricia Bernstein set bail at $2,500.

Finklea’s arraignment came about a month after that of ALAN SOTO (D.O.B. 5/14/90), also of Mission Hill, who was released without monetary bail on June 13.

Finklea and Soto were allegedly part of a group that waited outside the victim’s home on the night of June 2, then pushed him inside, beat him, pointed a gun at him, and robbed him of a large quantity of marijuana.

Boston Police responded to the scene at about 10:30 p.m. They immediately detected the strong smell of burned marijuana and saw the 22-year-old male victim bleeding from an injury to his head. The victim said the intruders had beaten him with several implements including a glass bong; officers found a broken bong in the apartment’s kitchen.

The victim said one of the assailants also pulled a gun and pointed it at him during the incident. Then, he said, they stole a plastic bag containing about a quarter-pound of marijuana before fleeing the residence.

The victim was able to identify Soto by name and through a photo array as a former co-worker. He was unable to identify Finklea through a photo array, but later presented Boston Police with Finklea’s picture, which he found on Facebook – the victim was “friends” with Soto, he said, and Soto was “friends” with Finklea on the social network.Based on those identifications, Boston Police obtained warrants for Soto’s and Finklea’s arrests.

Finklea was represented yesterday by attorney Josh Hanye. He and Soto will return to court on Aug. 11.