Criminal Appeals

Recent Criminal Law Cases

Attorney Crouch has handled many complex cases before federal and state courts of appeal in Massachusetts. He has successfully argued many criminal and civil cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, resulting in the reversal of his clients’ convictions and judgments against them. In 2017, the Committee for Public Counsel Services awarded Attorney Crouch the Edward J. Duggan Award For Outstanding Service. The Duggan Award is given to a private attorney who best represents zealous advocacy — the central principle governing the representation of indigents in Massachusetts. As a result of his appellate successes, Super Lawyers Magazine and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly have selected Attorney Crouch as a rising star and up and coming lawyer. He is a member of the criminal appellate, civil commitment, homicide, and Sex Offender Registry panels of the Committee of Public Counsel Services. He was also appointed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals to be a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel, where he receives appointments in federal appellate criminal matters. Attorney Crouch regularly speaks to groups of attorneys around the Commonwealth on issues related to criminal law and sex offender classification and frequently consults with and advises other attorneys representing individuals in these areas.

Commonwealth v. Hollins, 86 Mass. App. Ct. 1117 (2014) (reversing defendant’s conviction for failing to register as a sex offender).

Commonwealth v. Loring, 463 Mass. 1012 (2012) (reversing defendant’s conviction for failing to register as a sex offender).

Commonwealth v. Ryan, 79 Mass.App.Ct. 179 (2011) (larceny over $250 charge reversed, judgment affirmed in part).

Commonwealth v. Stuckey, 77 Mass. App. Ct. 1117 (2010) (reversing defendant’s conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; judgment affirmed in part).

United States v. Castro-Davis, 78 612 F.3d 53 (2010) (remanded for resentencing, judgment affirmed in part).

Commonwealth v. Kasibante, 77 Mass.App.Ct. 1121 (2010) (reversing defendant’s convictions for assault with intent to rape, witness intimidation, assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault, violation of an abuse prevention order, and threats to commit a crime).

In Kasibante, the defendant was found guilty after a jury trial of multiple counts and was acquitted of rape, stalking, and separate counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and threats to commit a crime. On appeal, the defendant raised a number of claims, including that the trial court improperly allowed the Commonwealth’s motion to impeach its own witness, where she was called for the sole purpose of impeachment with her prior inconsistent statements and offered no other substantive testimony. In reversing the defendant’s convictions, the Appeals Court agreed with Attorney Crouch that the evidence of the defendant’s could not “be characterized as overwhelming.” In light of the credibility contest at issue in the case, the court could not conclude that the erroneously admitted evidence had no material effect on the result and the convictions stand reversed.

Commonwealth v. Mineau, 77 Mass.App.Ct. 1123 (2010) (two indecent assault and battery charges reversed, judgment affirmed in part).

Commonwealth v. Pitts, 76 Mass.App.Ct. 1118 (2010) (reversing the defendant’s convictions for attempted rape of a child and attempted indecent assault and battery of a child under fourteen on grounds of insufficiency of evidence).

In Pitts, the defendant was charged with attempted rape of a child and attempted indecent assault and battery of a child under fourteen during an Internet sting operation. In reversing the defendant’s convictions, the Appeals Court agreed that the defendant’s arrival at a predetermined location was insufficient to show that that he intended and prepared for the rape of a child or that undertook an overt act that put him so near — in time or ability — to the completion of the crime as to be guilty of attempt.

Commonwealth v. Stuckey, 77 Mass.App.Ct. 1117 (2010) (possession of cocaine with intent to distribute charge reversed, judgment affirmed in part).

Commonwealth v. Collins, 2009-P-2008 (2009) (superior court allowed defendant’s motion for a new trial and reversed the defendant’s convictions for trafficking in cocaine after determining that the trial violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution).

Commonwealth v. Kulesa, 455 Mass. 447 (2009) (reversing defendant’s convictions where police officers exceeded their authority in searching the defendant and his vehicle absent probable cause to believe he had committed a crime).

In Kulesa, the defendant was charged with one indictment charging criminal harassment and eight indictments charging violations of an abuse prevention order. After representing himself at a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of the charges. As required by G. L. c. 278, § 11A(2), he then was arraigned and tried on the subsequent offender portion of the criminal harassment indictment. During the subsequent offender portion of the trial, the defendant requested the assistance of counsel, which the trial court denied. In reversing the defendant’s subsequent offender conviction, the Supreme Judicial Court concluded that the language of G. L. c. 278, § 11A, providing that a trial on a subsequent offender portion of an indictment be “subject to all the provisions of law governing criminal trials,” necessarily includes a right to counsel. Because the defendant requested, but was not afforded, the right to counsel in the subsequent offender proceeding, the Supreme Judicial Court concluded that his conviction of the subsequent offender portion of the criminal harassment indictment could not stand and it was vacated.

Commonwealth v. Rosado, 450 Mass. 657 (2008) (reversing the defendant’s conviction for failing to register as a sex offender on grounds of insufficiency of evidence and because homeless defendant complied with all registration requirements).

In Rosado, the defendant was found guilty after a jury-waived trial of violating the registration provision for sex offenders. See G. L. c. 6, § 178H (a). On appeal the defendant, who was homeless, raised a number of claims including that the judge erred in denying his motion for a required finding of not guilty because there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction. The Supreme Judicial Court transferred the case from the Appeals Court on its own motion. As the SJC concluded that the defendant complied with his statutory obligation to register pursuant to G. L. c. 6, § 178F 1/2, and the instructions promulgated by the Sex Offender Registry Board, the Court reversed the defendant’s conviction. The Court further ordered the SORB to revise its registration form to better protect the rights and interest of homeless sex offenders. Judgment reversed and the conviction set aside.

Commonwealth v. Knowles, 451 Mass. 91 (2008) (reversing defendant’s convictions where police officers exceeded their authority in searching the defendant and his vehicle absent probable cause to believe he had committed a crime).

In Knowles, a police officer on patrol received a dispatch about a man swinging a baseball bat. The officer observed defendant at the specified location, he fit the description, and he was leaning into a car trunk. The officer observed defendant throw something into the trunk. Defendant complied with the officer’s command to approach, and an inspection of the trunk revealed various drugs. The defendant was arrested and charged with multiple drug offenses, and he sought suppression of the drugs. After the trial court denied suppression, he was convicted of multiple drug charges at trial and on review, the Appeals Court affirmed the convictions and the denial of suppression. The Supreme Judicial Court allowed the defendant’s application for appellate review. After initially upholding the defendant’s convictions after a 3-3 split of the justices, Attorney Crouch petitioned for a rehearing, which was allowed. After the rehearing, a unanimous Supreme Judicial Court held that there was an insufficient basis to support the seizure as an investigative stop, under the community caretaking function, for emergencies, out of concern for the officer’s safety, or under the plain view doctrine. The Court held that the defendant’s rights under the Fourth Amendment and article Fourteen were violated suppression should have been granted. Judgment reversed and the convictions set aside.

Commonwealth v. Williams, 65 Mass.App.Ct. 9 (2006) (reversing the defendant’s convictions for assault and battery after determining that the trial court violated his rights under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution).

Two police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a fight between a male and a female in an apartment. As the officers entered the first floor hallway, defendant approached them and stated that “nothing was going on” and that he had broken a glass door. Defendant had blood on his clothing and a bump on his head. He also had cuts and scratches (some of which were bleeding) on his head, arms, and face. The officers talked to defendant for a few minutes and then one of them went upstairs to talk to the victim. After defendant was placed into the custody of other police officers, the two officers returned to the victim and had her repeat her version of the events. When the victim failed to appear at trial, the trial court allowed the officers to testify about her statements to them. The Appeals Court determined that the focus of the officers’ questions was the investigation of the crime, not the securing of necessary emergency medical care. As the victim’s statements were elicited by police interrogation, they were per se testimonial. Consequently, without the opportunity for cross-examination, the defendant’s right to confrontation under the Sixth Amendment was violated. Judgment reversed and convictions set aside.

His recent reported cases include:

Commonwealth v. Perez, 89 Mass. App. Ct. 51 (2016)
Commonwealth v. Dorisca, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 776 (2015)
Commonwealth v. Gonzales, 87 Mass. App. Ct. 1133 (2015)
John Doe No. 380316 v. Sex Offender Registry Board , 473 Mass. 297 (2015)
John Doe v. City of Lynn, 472 Mass. 521 (2015)
United States v. Jean-Pierre, First Circuit (2015)
Commonwealth v. Hollins, 86 Mass. App. Ct. 1117 (2014)
John Doe No. 151564 v. Sex Offender Registry Board , 85 Mass. App. Ct. 1 (2014)
United States v. Santiago-Reyes, First Circuit (2014)
United States v. Gingras, First Circuit (2014)
United States v. Cristallo, First Circuit (2014)
Commonwealth v. Bartlett, 84 Mass. App. Ct. 1861 (2013)
Commonwealth v. Doyle, 83 Mass. App. Ct. 1121 (2013)
Commonwealth v. Dreslinski, 465 Mass. 372 (2013)
Commonwealth v. Figueroa, 464 Mass. 365 (2013)
Commonwealth v. Howard, 84 Mass. App. Ct. 1120 (2013)
John Doe v. Sex Offender Registry Board , 466 Mass. 594 (2013)
United States v. Toyens-Villegas, First Circuit (2013)
United States v. Cepeda-Matos, First Circuit (2013)
Commonwealth v. Gee, 84 Mass. App. Ct. 1132 (2012)
Commonwealth v. Reagan, 81 Mass. App. Ct. 1136 (2012)
Commonwealth v. Garland, 79 Mass. App. Ct. 1102 (2011)
Commonwealth v. Ostrovsky, 78 Mass. App. Ct. 1122 (2011)
Commonwealth v. Ryan, 79 Mass. App. Ct. 179 (2011)
Commonwealth v. Taskey, 78 Mass. App. Ct. 787 (2011)
United States v. Lupovitz, First Circuit 09-2509 (2010)
United States v. Castro-Davis, 78 612 F.3d 53 (2010)
Commonwealth v. DeCosta, 78 Mass. App. Ct. 1107 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Larson, 78 Mass.App.Ct. 1112 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Kasibante, 77 Mass.App.Ct. 1121 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Marzilli, 457 Mass. 64 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Mineau, 77 Mass.App.Ct. 1123 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Palmer, 78 Mass. App. Ct. 1115 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Pitts, 76 Mass.App.Ct. 1118 (2010)
John Doe No. 151564 v. Sex Offender Registry Board , 457 Mass. 612 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Stuckey, 77 Mass. App. Ct. 1117 (2010)
Commonwealth v. Kulesa, 455 Mass. 447 (2009)
United States v. Barbosa, First Circuit 07-2593 (2008)
Commonwealth v. Bostock, 450 Mass. 616 (2008)
Commonwealth v. Knowles, 451 Mass. 91 (2008)
Commonwealth v. Rosado, 450 Mass. 657 (2008)
Commonwealth v. Becker, 71 Mass. App. Ct. 81 (2007)
Commonwealth v. King, 69 Mass. App. Ct. 113 (2007)
Commonwealth v. Ronald R., 450 Mass. 262 (2007)
Commonwealth v. Denaro, 68 Mass. App. Ct. 1105 (2006)
Commonwealth v. Williams, 65 Mass.App.Ct. 9 (2005)

Please contact Attorney Crouch at (617) 441-5111 or email him at acrouch[at]andrewcrouch.com to set up a free, initial consultation. To request further information please contact us.