Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts

Should we be summoned to court?

On Last Friday, some friends and I were waling back to school on Hammond Street in Newton, Ma. It was late, like 2 am and we were coming back from the store. As we passed a fire box, we noticed it was goign off but continued to walk. Ahead, some other kids ran and scattered off. The police stopped us and accused us of pulling the alarm. We denied it and said that there were other kids ahead. They claimed that there were no other kids and that they had been up the street five times and had seen no one else. We told them that there were and they still tried to get us to admit pulling the alarm. They took our Id's and said that we must be used to this because we were from Lynn(a not so wonderful community). I have no record and neither did my friends. They said if no one admitted it they would arrest us all. We still refused and he let us go. As he was driving off he said he would summon us to court. I got the summons today and it says I have to appear on March 15 and that I will have to pay a fine of $269.00. Will I really have to pay this and what will go on my permanent record?


Asked on 2/21/02, 1:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

henry lebensbaum Law Offices of Henry Lebensbaum (978-749-3606)

Re: Should we be summoned to court?

You are ahead of yourself:

1. The summons may be either for an arraignment or a clerk's hearing.

2. You should seek the advice of counsel, and get a copy of the police report.

3. There should also be some record as to when the alarm began & they may be some finger prints of the device.

Should you have any questions, please contact me or email me.

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Answered on 2/21/02, 1:18 pm


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