MA criminal defense attorney Kevin J. Mahoney on the overreaction of several ABC officers. As University of Virginia student, Elizabeth Daly, left a shopping center carrying a box of sparkling water, cookie dough, and ice cream to her SUV, seven agents of Alcohol Beverage Control sprung into action. Mistaking a blue carton of LaCroix sparkling water for a 12-pack of beer, they surrounded the vehicle, with one agent leaping onto the hood of the SUV, while another drew his firearm.In an account … [Read more...]
Police Officers Must Be Drug Free
Boston Criminal Defense Attorney Kevin J. Mahoney Discusses Reinstatement of Officers Who Failed Drug TestingMost businesses require employees to report to work drug-free and to remain drug free while performing their duties. When the employee is a law enforcement officer, not only the municipality, but also citizens have a right to expect the same and uphold the standards of the position entrusted to him.The Boston Herald reported recently that the Massachusetts’ Civil Service Commission … [Read more...]
Heavily Armed Ranger Smith Swarms Orchid Seller’s Home
Boston criminal lawyer Kevin J. Mahoney on the Prosecution of Retiree Selling Orchids Who knew that importing and selling orchids could be a federal offense? Certainly Texas retiree George Norris didn’t. Not content to spend his new-found free time watching reruns on television or sitting in a bar, Mr. Norris decided to put his free time into a business. One would think he was masterminding a plot against the government: his orchid business led to a two-year prison sentence. The orchid … [Read more...]
Use of Military Assault Tactics
Massachusetts criminal lawyer Kevin J. Mahoney on the Militarization of Law EnforcementImagine sitting on the sofa watching an enjoyable television show, your seven-year-old granddaughter sound asleep beside you. Suddenly, a grenade is hurled through the front window, sending shards of glass everywhere. It explodes so close to the girl it burns her blanket. Officers dressed in full combat gear kick open the front, one firing a round from his assault weapon, striking the girl in the neck, killing … [Read more...]
TSA Taking Us Hostage
Boston Criminal Attorney Kevin J. Mahoney on TSA, Pocket-knives, and Government OverreachingMight a wheelchair-bound 3-year-old with spinal bifida be a terrorist? One would think so, given the insistence of TSA agents in February, 2013 that the child be patted down before boarding the plane. While the Transportation Security Administration has apologized to the family for the incident—after it received national attention—what happened to little Lucy on her way to Disney World is just one more … [Read more...]
