Massachusetts Juvenile Sex Crime Charge Dismissed Through Pre-Arraignment Diversion

Our client was a 15-year-old high school student charged in Massachusetts Juvenile Court with photographing the sexual or intimate parts of another person under the age of 18, in violation of G.L. c. 272, § 105(b). This serious offense carries a potential penalty of up to five years in state prison.

The allegations arose after our client used his cell phone to photograph another student while that student was using a school bathroom. The juvenile was reported to school officials, who questioned him about the incident. Although he initially denied the allegations, he subsequently gave school officials permission to examine his cell phone. They discovered photographs that formed the basis of the criminal complaint.

Our office represented the juvenile in Juvenile Court and successfully advocated for pre-arraignment diversion. The judge agreed to allow our client to participate in a diversion program rather than proceed with the ordinary juvenile court process.

Our client successfully completed the diversion program. As a result, the juvenile complaint was dismissed before arraignment.

This was an important result for our young client. A juvenile sex crime allegation can have serious consequences for a young person’s education, reputation, and future opportunities. By obtaining pre-arraignment diversion and successfully completing the program, we were able to secure a dismissal without an arraignment or adjudication of delinquency.

Practice Areas: Massachusetts Juvenile Defense | Massachusetts Sex Crimes Defense | Juvenile Diversion