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Man apparently tired of being on the lam turns self in on 12-year-old JP gun charge
By adamg on Fri, 05/29/2015 - 12:43pm
A man arrested on charges he threatened somebody with a gun in Jamaica Plain in 2003 was re-arraigned yesterday - 12 years after he skipped out after his first arraignment - the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.
Roxbury Municipal Court Judge Debra DelVecchio imposed $5,000 bail and ordered Wellington Matos, 34, to wear a GPS, surrender his passport, and continue residing at his current address while the case is pending, the DA's office reports, adding prosecutors had asked for $30,000 bail.
The DA's office reports police did not apprehend Matos - he simply walked into court in Roxbury and surrendered. Assuming he doesn't walk out again, he will face trial on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and single counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of ammunition.
According to prosecutors, on March 8, 2003, Matos pointed a "pistol-grip shotgun" at a man in a car at Centre and Mozart streets in Jamaica Plain and racked it. Police caught up with him in the area of Edge Hill and Gay Head streets, where they noticed the shotgun on the car's floor and Matos's seat. They eventually also found "a loaded Smith & Wesson .38 Special with four rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber and a duffle bag containing eight 12-guage shotgun shells," the DA's office reports.
Innocent, etc.
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Comments
I'm torn by this one
If I was the judge or the DA I would want to know what he's been doing for the last 12 years. If he's still up to his old games then he deserves a term at the penn. If, on the other hand, he's working a steady job and has been a good citizen, then there is only detriment to society to pay to lock him up.
How he has lived his life since the arrest is the best way to tell if he is "rehabilitated."
you
are pretty insufferable
Okay
So. Are we to believe that running from criminal charges should be rewarded in this way? Where do those who face the music get such an opportunity? Do tell.
laughed
my favorite part was how since he managed to not be arrested in 12 years, it would be acceptable to not punish him for pointing a(n illegally owned) loaded weapon at a person
no, a price should be paid...
But the circumstances are always worth considering.
very true
Do he use a space saver?
Do he commute on a bike?
Do he use a...
Do he use a pistol? Yes.
Do he use a shotgun? Yes.
So, for whatever his reason for turning himself in, good for him. But still, he answers to the charges he was charged with. Sure, take it into consideration, if for no better reason than to not discourage others, but he answers for it as Frankie indicated.
12 years is a long time
The guy is now 34 and, perhaps, has gotten his shit together. Most people who flake on showing up for their arraignments end up being re-arrested later for something. I'm always amazed to hear how many people out there have warrants open on them. It's not that uncommon.
This guy, perhaps, kept his nose clean. If he did and is now on the straight and narrow (likely with a family), what good does it do to throw him in jail (even for 6 months?) He'll lose his job (that I have presumed he has) and his family will suffer (i.e. go on welfare) and he'll be more likely to go back to his bad-old ways.
As I said, this assumes he's "reformed". If not, then I'm totally into gun-toting thugs being behind bars. All I'm saying, is that the law should look at more than just what he did 12 years ago.
And if his defense attorney
is any good, he'll bring up these matters during trial. That's the proper way for the law to give consideration to possible "migitating circumstances" such as these, not by giving a guy a free pass because he managed to keep his nose clean (for whatever reasons) after SKIPPING OUT after an arraignment 12 years ago.
DA says no arrests in that time
So he was pretty quiet.
If there is a statute of
If there is a statute of limitations on this crime?
Yes but he was arraigned.
So it wouldn't matter.
Rumor has it
he's been working in India trying to stop gang rapes
i dont care
if he cured cancer
pointing an illegal loaded gun at somebody and then not getting arrested for 12 years doesnt negate the first part.
youre not SUPPOSED to get arrested. you shouldnt get accolades for doing the right thing.
maybe when you have somebody point a gun at you, you'll realize how unpleasant it is.
Am I the only one that finds this odd?
"loaded Smith & Wesson .38 Special with four rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber "
Isn't an S&W .38 Special a revolver?
S&W Model 52 is chambered in .38 Special
@dmcboston, You're right, usually it's a revolver but the S&W Model 52 is chambered in .38 Special and holds five rounds.
As for the defendant, kudos for surrendering and not being arrested in 12 years. As most defense attorneys say from their side, "A criminal case is like a fine wine. It gets better with age." Chances are if the victim is still alive/around he/she may no longer be interested in testifying. There's also a good chance the arresting officer is retired and unavailable. Doubtful anything significant will happen to the defendant.
S&W Doesn't Make A Pistol in .38 Special
AFAIK, S&W doesn't make an automatic pistol chambered for .38 Special. We don't expect the DA's Office or the media to be that accurate when it comes to describing firearms, however. It was probably a .380.