Pretrial Probation for Graduate School Student Charged With Domestic Assault and Battery

In February of 2020 police were called to a hospital emergency room for a call on a domestic dispute. The victim had been rushed to the hospital after being struck in the face with a rice cooker pan by her boyfriend, the defendant. The boyfriend admitted that he had done this yet claimed he had done so accidentally. The man was charged with assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon under G.L. c. 265 section 15A. Also, the man is here on a student visa meaning that any conviction or admission to sufficient facts would result in a discontinuation of his privileges in this country and likely deportation. The case was litigated for over two years. Much of the delay was attributed to the pandemic. Prophylactically, the defendant entered and completed the certified batterer’s program. In the meantime he maintained his relationship with the victim, graduated from college and entered a top 20 graduate business program in New York. Recognizing many difficulties in successfully prosecuting this case, as well as the defendant’s efforts to address an anger issue, the district attorney agreed to pretrial probation under G.L. c. 276 section 87. All charges will be dismissed in one year.

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