Five charged with selling, buying heroin
On Thursday, December 1, five men were arrested in Weymouth on a drug sting in several convenience store parking lots. One, Joshua Desmond, was charged with selling heroin, and the other four of buying.
On Friday, December 2, they were arraigned in Quincy District Court. The arraignments were spread out over the course of the day. Three of the defendants were in custody: Michael Browne, Joshua Brown, and Joshua Desmond. Two, David Barron and Matthew Earner, were in the gallery.
In the video above, the clerk assigns different attorneys to each defendant. David Barron was arraigned on possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws. (Heroin is a Class A substance.) Below, the DA asked for $1,000 bail because of his probation history. In 2010, he was convicted of the same charge and was put on probation, which he violated, leading to 90 days spent in prison.
Above, Barron’s defense attorney asks for a lower bail, saying that he is living with and taking care of his grandmother who just had triple bypass surgery, and has a steady job as a mechanic for a taxi company.
Above, see Michael Browne arraigned on possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws. There was no request for bail. At 2:13 in the clip, they continue talking about one of the co-defendants who is going to be committed for heroin abuse. At 4:22, they talk about the remaining co-defendants.
Above, Matthew Earner is seen arraigned on possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Earner was also “sectioned,” i.e. his brother filed for a Section 35 commitment for substance abuse for him, based on his continued use of heroin, cocaine and benzos.
Above, Earner does not contest the petition, acknowledging a drug history including accidental overdoses. The judge approved the petition.
The alleged dealer Joshua Desmond was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, two counts of distributing heroin, possession of both Class A and C drugs, selling drugs near a school, and shoplifting (of three eggs).
The DA asked for $10,000 bail because police witnessed him having five short hand-to-hand interactions in local parking lots and when searching his apartment, found drug-selling paraphernalia such as scales and plastic bags. He was found with $600 in cash on him.
His defense attorney argued that no drugs were found on him or on any of the defendants brought forth today. He said he has so much cash on him because he is homeless.
Joshua Brown was charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws. He has another open case set for a jury trial in December. The DA asked for $1,500 bail and for bail to be revoked for his open case. His attorney argued that the police did not clearly see him buying drugs and there were no drugs found on him, only on someone else in the car he was riding in.
Above: watch the DA and the defense attorneys make bail arguments before the judge’s final bail ruling.
The next date in court for all five defendants is December 19.
2 Responses to “Five charged with selling, buying heroin”
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WILL THIS MAKE EVEN A TINY DIFFERENCE IN EITHER THE SUPPLY OR DEMAND FOR THIS DRUG? WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME. CHECK OUT THE FRONT VIDEO ON http://WWW.LEAP.CC TO SEE HOW A MEDICAL APPROACH TO HEROIN ADDICTION MAKES MORE SENSE THAN THE COPS AND ROBBERS APPROACH.
I have known several junkies during my 58 years in the Boston area. Every single one of them eventually had a habit which they could not support via legal means, they all robbed, stole and cheated every person they came in contact with, including their families. With only one exception, they all willingly took heroin knowing it to be an extremely addictive drug. The only exception to this was one person hat became addicted to morphine while recovering from a combat gunshot wound in Vietnam.
My point is; why should society pamper these kind of people. Once they are let out on the street the first thing they do is commit a crime to obtain the cash they need to get high again.