A judge at Boston Municipal Court is holding an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in contempt and accusing that agent and two Massachusetts State Police troopers of obstructing justice when they arrested a defendant in the middle of a trial last week.
The incident happened last Thursday when Wilson Martell-Lebron was arrested by ICE agents outside court and led to a waiting car. Martell-Lebron was on trial and accused of trying to obtain a license illegally.
The judge in the case stated that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office was working with the Massachusetts State Police and ICE on the case. However, on Thursday, Martell-Lebron left the courthouse and was arrested by ICE agents.
“I find that Brian Sullivan and other of agents of ICE conspired in a premeditated manner to take the defendant into custody. But not just that, to not return him to court for his trial,” Judge Mark Summerville said.
…
The local charges against him at the Boston Municipal Court have been dismissed by a judge on grounds of misconduct by the Massachusetts State Police and ICE.
The judge now says it is a federal court issue. It is unclear what will happen with Martell-Lebron at the federal court level. His lawyer plans to appeal to a federal judge in Boston.
A Massachusetts State Police spokesman said the troopers were testifying in a criminal case at the courthouse when they learned of ICE’s intention to detain Martell-Lebron, and they “responded appropriately by neither assisting nor obstructing the federal action.”
“Participating in such a mission or sharing information about it would be contrary to the Department’s longstanding approach across several state and federal Administrations to these complex situations, which prohibits Troopers from participating in a mission solely to facilitate detention or deportation,” State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk said in a statement. “Our focus remains on working collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to prevent, deter and respond to violations of state criminal law for the safety of everyone who lives, works, studies and visits Massachusetts.”
A spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said their team did nothing wrong.
“Any accusation that we participated in any misconduct or any operation to remove the defendant is false and reckless,” said James Borghesani.
Cupinacup on
> The judge now says it is a federal court issue. It is unclear what will happen with Martell-Lebron at the federal court level. His lawyer plans to appeal to a federal judge in Boston.
Not reassuring.
> A Massachusetts State Police spokesman said the troopers were testifying in a criminal case at the courthouse when they learned of ICE’s intention to detain Martell-Lebron, and they “responded appropriately by neither assisting nor obstructing the federal action.”
Oh no biggie we’re just gonna stand by and let ICE black-bag someone in our custody 🤗
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A judge at Boston Municipal Court is holding an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in contempt and accusing that agent and two Massachusetts State Police troopers of obstructing justice when they arrested a defendant in the middle of a trial last week.
The incident happened last Thursday when Wilson Martell-Lebron was arrested by ICE agents outside court and led to a waiting car. Martell-Lebron was on trial and accused of trying to obtain a license illegally.
The judge in the case stated that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office was working with the Massachusetts State Police and ICE on the case. However, on Thursday, Martell-Lebron left the courthouse and was arrested by ICE agents.
“I find that Brian Sullivan and other of agents of ICE conspired in a premeditated manner to take the defendant into custody. But not just that, to not return him to court for his trial,” Judge Mark Summerville said.
…
The local charges against him at the Boston Municipal Court have been dismissed by a judge on grounds of misconduct by the Massachusetts State Police and ICE.
The judge now says it is a federal court issue. It is unclear what will happen with Martell-Lebron at the federal court level. His lawyer plans to appeal to a federal judge in Boston.
A Massachusetts State Police spokesman said the troopers were testifying in a criminal case at the courthouse when they learned of ICE’s intention to detain Martell-Lebron, and they “responded appropriately by neither assisting nor obstructing the federal action.”
“Participating in such a mission or sharing information about it would be contrary to the Department’s longstanding approach across several state and federal Administrations to these complex situations, which prohibits Troopers from participating in a mission solely to facilitate detention or deportation,” State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk said in a statement. “Our focus remains on working collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to prevent, deter and respond to violations of state criminal law for the safety of everyone who lives, works, studies and visits Massachusetts.”
A spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said their team did nothing wrong.
“Any accusation that we participated in any misconduct or any operation to remove the defendant is false and reckless,” said James Borghesani.
> The judge now says it is a federal court issue. It is unclear what will happen with Martell-Lebron at the federal court level. His lawyer plans to appeal to a federal judge in Boston.
Not reassuring.
> A Massachusetts State Police spokesman said the troopers were testifying in a criminal case at the courthouse when they learned of ICE’s intention to detain Martell-Lebron, and they “responded appropriately by neither assisting nor obstructing the federal action.”
Oh no biggie we’re just gonna stand by and let ICE black-bag someone in our custody 🤗