20.07.2013 Views

NO. SJC-10824 PURSUANT TO GLC 211, 5 3 FROM ... - Mass Cases

NO. SJC-10824 PURSUANT TO GLC 211, 5 3 FROM ... - Mass Cases

NO. SJC-10824 PURSUANT TO GLC 211, 5 3 FROM ... - Mass Cases

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS<br />

(1 of 2)<br />

Suffolk, ss. Supreme Judicial Court<br />

<strong>NO</strong>. <strong>SJC</strong>-<strong>10824</strong><br />

COMMONWEALTH,<br />

Plaintiff/Appellee<br />

vs<br />

ROBERT ALDRICH,<br />

Defendant/Appellant<br />

APPEAL <strong>FROM</strong> DENIAL OF SINGLE JUSTICE OF<br />

PETITION <strong>TO</strong> SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT FOB RELIEF<br />

<strong>PURSUANT</strong> <strong>TO</strong> G.L.C. <strong>211</strong>, 5 3 <strong>FROM</strong> A SUPERIOR COURT<br />

REQUIRING DEFENDANT <strong>TO</strong> WEAR A GLOBAL POSITIONING<br />

SYSTEM (GPS) DEVICE AS CONDITION OF RELEASE ON BAIL<br />

(Single Justice No. SJ-2009-0474)<br />

(Middlesex Superior Court No. 2008-00164)<br />

February 7, 2011<br />

BRIEF <strong>FROM</strong> DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<br />

ROBERT ALDRICH<br />

(SEPARATE APPENDIX)<br />

Robert Aldrich<br />

MCI Shirley<br />

P.O. Box 1218<br />

Shirley, MA 01464


Contents<br />

TABLE OF AUTHORITY<br />

ISSUES PRESENTED<br />

STATEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS<br />

STATEMENT OF FACTS<br />

ARGUMENT <strong>NO</strong>, 1<br />

ARGUMENT <strong>NO</strong>. 2<br />

Sub Argument:. d.<br />

Sub Argument: B.<br />

Sub Argument: I3.<br />

Sub Argument: D.<br />

ARGUMENT <strong>NO</strong>. 3<br />

Sub Argument: A.<br />

Sub Argument: B.<br />

Sub Argument: C.<br />

Sub Argument: D.<br />

Sub Argument: E.<br />

CONCLUSION<br />

ADDENDUM<br />

TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

CERTIFICATE OF CERTIFICATION<br />

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE<br />

Pages<br />

i - vi<br />

vii - viii<br />

1<br />

'5<br />

23<br />

25<br />

25<br />

33<br />

34<br />

39<br />

43<br />

44<br />

45<br />

4a<br />

48<br />

49<br />

50<br />

1 - 44


Case Laws<br />

Commonwealth v. Adkinson<br />

442 <strong>Mass</strong>. 410 (2004)<br />

Commonwea<br />

445 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

Commonwea<br />

389 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

Cornmonwea<br />

349 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

Commonwea<br />

454 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

Commonwea<br />

400 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

Comrnonwea<br />

385 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES<br />

th v. Aim<br />

667 (1992)<br />

th v. Appleby<br />

359 (1983)<br />

th v. Balliro<br />

505 (1965)<br />

th v. Blake<br />

267 (2009)<br />

th v. Blood<br />

1 (1987)<br />

th V.<br />

733<br />

Commonwealth v.<br />

356 <strong>Mass</strong>. 132<br />

Commonwealth v.<br />

454 <strong>Mass</strong>. aoa<br />

Bohanon<br />

1982)<br />

Carita<br />

1969)<br />

Connolly<br />

2009)<br />

Commonwealth v. Cory<br />

454 <strong>Mass</strong> 559 (2009)<br />

Co mm o n w e a<br />

452 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

Gornmonwea<br />

446 <strong>Mass</strong><br />

th v. Donohue<br />

256 (2008).<br />

th v. Durham<br />

212 (2005)<br />

Commonwea th v, Emeli<br />

453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 1024<br />

Commonwealht v. Eneh<br />

76 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 672<br />

Commonwealth v. Gonza<br />

76 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 1111<br />

Commonwealth v. Games<br />

453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 506 (2009)<br />

2010<br />

ez<br />

( 201<br />

Pages<br />

45, 46<br />

40<br />

33<br />

45, 46, 47<br />

30'<br />

35, 38<br />

45<br />

45<br />

37, 38<br />

30,31, 32, 33,<br />

36, 40, S2<br />

24, 27<br />

45, 46<br />

6, 26, 27, 28,<br />

48<br />

48<br />

35


Case Laws<br />

Commonwealth v. Goodwin<br />

458 <strong>Mass</strong>. I1 (2010)<br />

Commonwealth v. Guznian<br />

446 <strong>Mass</strong>. 344 (2006)<br />

Commonwealth v. Jackson<br />

419 <strong>Mass</strong>. 718 (1985)<br />

Commonwealth v. Manning<br />

373 <strong>Mass</strong>. 438 (1977)<br />

Commonwealth v. Martin<br />

425 <strong>Mass</strong>. 718 (1997)<br />

Commonwealth v. Pagan<br />

445 <strong>Mass</strong>. 161 (ZOOS)<br />

Commonwealth v. Raposo<br />

453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 739 (2009)<br />

Commonwealth v. Rivera<br />

424 <strong>Mass</strong>. 266 (1996)<br />

Commonwealth v. Rollins<br />

441 <strong>Mass</strong>. 114 (2004)<br />

Commonwealth v. St. Pierre<br />

377 <strong>Mass</strong>. 650 (1979)<br />

Commonwealth v. Super<br />

76 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.ct. 492 (2000)<br />

Commonwealth v. Taylor<br />

455 <strong>Mass</strong>. 372 (2009)<br />

Commonwealth v. Teixeira<br />

76 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 101 (2010)<br />

Commonwealth v. Vellejo<br />

455 <strong>Mass</strong>. 72 (2009)<br />

,Doe v. Sex Offender Reg. Ad.<br />

450 <strong>Mass</strong>. 780 (2008)<br />

Dutil, Petitioner<br />

437 <strong>Mass</strong>. 9 (2002)<br />

ii<br />

Pages<br />

38, 40<br />

24<br />

43<br />

49<br />

33, 43<br />

49<br />

6,26, 27, 28,<br />

29, 36, 38<br />

45<br />

45<br />

45<br />

45<br />

48<br />

S5, 46<br />

49<br />

7, 30<br />

31, 33<br />

39


Case Laws<br />

Guiney v. Police Comm'r of Boston<br />

411 <strong>Mass</strong>. 692 (1989)<br />

Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective<br />

Ass'n Inc., v. State Racing Comrn'n<br />

403 <strong>Mass</strong>. 692 (1989)<br />

LaCava v. Lucander<br />

58 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 527 (2003)<br />

Rosenbloom v. Kokofsky<br />

373 <strong>Mass</strong>. 778 (1977)<br />

Selectmen of Milton v. Justice<br />

Dist. Ct.<br />

286 <strong>Mass</strong>. 1 (1934)<br />

Town o€ Rlackstone v. Town of<br />

Mi lville<br />

59 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 565<br />

U.S. Supreme Court<br />

Brower v. County of Inyo<br />

489 U.S. 593 (1987)<br />

California v. Hoadari<br />

499 U,S. 621 (1991)<br />

Chapman v. California<br />

386 U.S, 18 (1967)<br />

Crawford v. Washin ton<br />

541 U.S. 36 (20047<br />

Feretta v+ California<br />

422 U.S. 806 (1975)<br />

Karo v. United States<br />

468 U.S. 705 (1984)<br />

Katz v. United States<br />

389 U.S. 347 (1967)<br />

McKaskle v. Wi gins<br />

465 U.S. 168 71984)<br />

iii<br />

Pages<br />

38<br />

35<br />

39<br />

24<br />

24<br />

40, 41<br />

PaRes<br />

37, 38<br />

38<br />

44<br />

46<br />

32, &3, 44<br />

37<br />

35, 37<br />

33


U.S. Supreme Court<br />

Schmerber v. California<br />

384 U.S. 757 (1966)<br />

Smith v. Doe<br />

538 U.S. 84 (2003)<br />

Virginia v. Moore<br />

128 S.Ct. 1598 (2008)<br />

Federal <strong>Cases</strong><br />

United States V. Bailey<br />

834 F.2d. 218 (1st. cir. 1987)<br />

Other Jurisdiction Case Laws<br />

People v. Weaver<br />

909 N.E. 1195 (N.Y. 2009)<br />

State v. Jackson<br />

76 P.3d. 217 (Wash. 2003)<br />

State v. Murtagh<br />

Alaska No. S-11988/12007 (2007)<br />

United States Constitution<br />

Fourth Amendment<br />

Fifth Amendment<br />

Sixth Amendment<br />

Thirteenth Amendment<br />

Fourteenth Amendment<br />

ii.ii<br />

Pages<br />

35, 37<br />

32, 42<br />

35, 38<br />

Pages<br />

44, 45, 47<br />

PaEes<br />

40<br />

40, 41<br />

46, 47<br />

PaRes<br />

24. 34, 35, 36,<br />

37, 38, 50<br />

25, 39<br />

32, 43, 46, 50<br />

25, 37<br />

25, 39, 46, 50


<strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Constitution<br />

Article Twelve<br />

Article Fourteen<br />

Article Thirty<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>achusetts General Laws<br />

G.L.~. 6, s i7ac<br />

G.L.c. <strong>211</strong>, g 3<br />

G.L.c. 233, 205<br />

G.L.c. 233, 3 20K<br />

G.L.C. 2588, S 3(m)<br />

G.L.c. 265, 3 47<br />

E.L.c. 265, 3 52A<br />

G.t.c. 268, 3 13B<br />

G.L.c. 276, 5 58<br />

E.L.c. 276, 3 586<br />

G.L.c. 276, § 87<br />

Federal Statutes<br />

Title 10, c. 136, § 2281<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. Rules Criminal Procedures<br />

Rule 14(a)(l)(iv)<br />

Rule 36<br />

V<br />

PaEes<br />

25, 32, 39,<br />

45, 46, 50<br />

25, 35, 36,<br />

38, 50<br />

23, 23, 24<br />

Pages<br />

2a,29, 37,50<br />

2, 3, 4, 9<br />

47<br />

47<br />

23, 47<br />

7. 9. 23. 24.<br />

2i, i6, i7, is,<br />

29,.30, 33, 34,<br />

35,36, 38, 39<br />

41.42. 44-49.<br />

50'<br />

7<br />

47<br />

27, 28<br />

49<br />

27, 28<br />

Pages<br />

35, 36, 40<br />

Pages<br />

45, 48<br />

15


Law Reviews And Commentaries<br />

Megan A. Janick<br />

Note: Better Seen Than Hered:<br />

Residency Restrictions and Global<br />

Positioning System Tracking Laws<br />

for Sex Offenders, 16 B.U. Int.<br />

J.L. 258 (2007).<br />

Reepal S. DalaL<br />

Note: Chipping Away at the Consti-<br />

tution: The Increasing Use of RFID<br />

Chips Could Lead to Erosion of<br />

Privacy Rights, 86 B.U.L. Rev. 485<br />

(2006).<br />

R.J. Parker<br />

Case Comment: Commonwealth v.<br />

Morasse n. 1: Home Confinement:<br />

Stretching the Limits On Restricting<br />

a Probationer's Liberty (2008).<br />

Richard G. VJright<br />

Symposium: Parole and Probation:<br />

Sex Offender Post-Incarceration<br />

Sanctions: Are They Any Limits?<br />

(2008), New tngland Journal On Criminal<br />

and Civil Confinement.<br />

Susan J. Walsh and Ivan J. Dominguez<br />

Privacy and Technology : Law1 Enforce-<br />

ment's Secrets Uses of GPS Devices,<br />

Champion 26 (May 2009).<br />

Note:<br />

Who Are the People in your peighbor-<br />

hood? Due Process, Public Protection,<br />

And Sex Offender Notification Laws,<br />

74 N.Y.U.L. Rev, 1451, 1467-1469<br />

(1990)(describing acts of violence<br />

against registered sex offenders).<br />

George Orwell<br />

Novel: 1984 (1949)<br />

vi<br />

Pages<br />

43<br />

43<br />

36<br />

36<br />

43<br />

42<br />

40


I S S U E S P R E S E N T E D<br />

1. WHERE A COURT ORDERED THE PROBATION DEFT. <strong>TO</strong><br />

ATTACH A "GP5 DEVICE" ON A PRETRIAL DEFENDANT,<br />

WHO WAS <strong>NO</strong>T A CONVfCTED SEX OFFENDER, THE COURT<br />

EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY AND VIOLATD THE SEPARA-<br />

'TION OF POWERS BY GOING BEYOND THE LEGISLATIXVE<br />

INTENT AND AVTHORITY OF G.E.C. 265, 5 47, IN<br />

VIOLATION OF ART. 30 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DE-<br />

CL-ATION OF RIGHTS<br />

2. WHERE PRETRIAL DEFENDANT WAS <strong>NO</strong>T A CONVICTED SEX<br />

OFFENDER, TFIE COURT ERRED I N ORDERING THE DEFENDANT,<br />

<strong>PURSUANT</strong> <strong>TO</strong> G.L.C. 265, 5 47, <strong>TO</strong> WEAR A GPS BRACELET<br />

AS A CONDITION OF HIS BAIL AND PRETRIAL PROBATION,<br />

WHICH INFIRNGED UPON TRE DEFENDANT'IS LIBERTY RIGBTS<br />

UNDER THE 4TR. 5TH, 13TH, AND 14TB AMENDMENTS <strong>TO</strong><br />

THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ART. 12 AND 14<br />

OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DECLARATION OF RIGHTS<br />

A. Can the GPS monitoring requirement of 5 47 be<br />

imposed upon a pretrial defendant who is not<br />

a convicted sex offender?<br />

B. Does G.L.c. 265, 5 47 impose a substantial<br />

burden on liberty through the use of the GPS<br />

monitorinq and tracking system?<br />

C. Governmental GPS monitoring, tracking, and<br />

surveillance of Aldrich's movements and acti-<br />

vities, pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 5 47. violated<br />

Aldrich's fundamental constitutional rights<br />

under the Fourth Amendment and Art. 14 from<br />

unreasonable "searches" and "seizures".<br />

D. Governmental GPS monitoring, tracking, and<br />

surveillance of Aldrich's movements and acti-<br />

vities, pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 5 47, violated<br />

Aidrich's fundamental constitutional rights<br />

under the 5th and 14th Amendments and Art. 12<br />

to his personal "freedom" and "liberty".<br />

vi i


3. WIlERE DEFENRANT Was ALLOWED <strong>TO</strong> PROCEED PRO<br />

SE THROUGHOUT ALL PROCEDINGS, IT WAS A<br />

DIRECT VIOLATION OF HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT<br />

RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND/OR ITS AGENTS ”<br />

<strong>TO</strong> USE GPS DEVICE <strong>TO</strong> MONI<strong>TO</strong>R, TRACK, AND<br />

CONDUCT SURVEILLANCE OF PRO SE DEFENDANT<br />

WHILLE HE PREPARED ms DEFENSE FOR TRIAL<br />

A. Denial of Access To Wttnesses<br />

B. Denial of Access To Witnesses<br />

By Written Consent Requirement<br />

C, Denial of Continuance To Access, Interview,<br />

And Secure Attendance of Witnesses<br />

D. Threats and Intimidation By Police Officer<br />

A Day Before Trial Violated Defendant‘s<br />

Substantive Constitutional Rights To Fair Trial<br />

E. Abuse of Discretion In Revocation of Bail<br />

During Trial Without Prior Notice or Hearinq<br />

viii


STATEMENT OF PRIOR PROCEEDINGS<br />

On February 7, 2008, a Middlesex county grand<br />

jury returned 8 indictments against the defendant<br />

' for burglary, larceny, larceny, attempt to commit<br />

a crime, burglarious tool, destruction o f property,<br />

resisting arrest<br />

00164,~001-008).<br />

as an habitual o<br />

attached hereto<br />

"1-23"). 1/<br />

and false name (Indict, nos. 2008-<br />

The defendant was also indicted<br />

fender. The docket entry sheet is<br />

n the Record of Appendix (R.A.<br />

On February 25, 2008, defendant was arraigned<br />

in Middlesex Superior Court, and he was granted<br />

leave to proceed "Pro Se" after a full colloquy<br />

from the court (R.A. "3", no. 7).<br />

On February 25, 2008, during arraignment,<br />

the Commonwealth's request for $25,000.00 cash<br />

bail was allowed, and the defendant was held in<br />

custody.<br />

On March 18, 2009, the defendant's motion<br />

for reduction of bail was allowed, and the court<br />

vacated the original bail. The court reduced the<br />

bail to $50,000.00 surety or $5,000.00 cash yith<br />

conditions of GPS electronic bracelet, at the<br />

Commonwealth's request (R.A. "IO").<br />

1/ The exhibits within the attached Record of<br />

Appendix shall be referred to as (R.A."[page]").


On August 8, 2009, the defendant filed, in<br />

Middlesex Superior Court, 'an "Emergency Motion<br />

To Vacate Electronic (GPS) Bracelet As A Gondi-<br />

tion of Bail Due To Recent Supreme Judicial Court<br />

Decision," based 'on the fact that the defendant<br />

-<br />

was not a convicted sex oEfender. The motion was<br />

denied (Kottmyer, J.)(R.A. "13", no. 163).<br />

On August 26, 2009, the defendant's bail<br />

was posted in the. amount of $5,000.00 cash;<br />

however, a note.was written on the bail receipt<br />

that the defendant was to be released to bracelet<br />

"hold," and defendant was not released from<br />

custody (R.A. "24").<br />

On August 31, 2009, the defendant filed,<br />

with the.Single Justice of the Supreme Judicial .<br />

11<br />

Court, a Petition To Supreme Judicial Court For<br />

Relief Pursuant to G.L.c. <strong>211</strong>, ? 3 From A Superior<br />

Court Order Requiring Petitioner <strong>TO</strong> Wear A Global<br />

Positioning System (GFS) Device As A Condition<br />

Of His Release On.Bai1," which was docketed in'<br />

the Supreme Judicial Court on September 3, 2009, ,<br />

under docket number 2009-0474 (R.A. "25-32").<br />

On September 2, 2009, defendant was released<br />

on bail with the GPS electronic bracelet attached<br />

to his ankle (R.A. "13," no, 164).


On September 8, 2009, while on bail, the<br />

Pro Se defendant filed, in Middlesex Superior<br />

Court, a "Petition To Remove Electronic Bracelet<br />

As A Condition of Bail," which was denied (Connors,<br />

J.)(R.A. "33-35").<br />

On September 8, 2009, the defendant then<br />

filed, with the Single Justice of the Supreme<br />

,I<br />

Judicial Court, a Motion Requesting Emergency<br />

I,<br />

Ex Parte Hearing, for a procedural order to<br />

vacate the lower court's ruling which forced<br />

the defendant to wear a FPS electronic bracelet,<br />

which was denied (Cordy, J.)(R.A. "36-38").<br />

On September 17, 2009, a Single Justice<br />

of the Supreme Judicial Court (Cordy, J.)<br />

denied defendant's Petition for relief pursuant<br />

to C.L.C. <strong>211</strong>, 5 3 (R.A. "39-40").<br />

On October 8, 2009, defendant filed anew,<br />

withniddlesex Superior Court, a "Motion to Vacate<br />

Original Order Imposing Electronic GPS Bracelet<br />

As A Condition of Bail,'' which was denied (Muse,<br />

J.)(R.A. "13", no. 167).<br />

On October 22, 2009, defendant filed, with<br />

Middlesex Superior Court, a "Motion To Vacate<br />

Curfew Due To Use Of Electronic GPS Bracelet<br />

Tracking System," which was denied (Muse, J.)<br />

(B.A. "13", no. 168).<br />

3


On December 15, 2009, after a jury trial,<br />

defendant was found guilty of burglary, larceny,<br />

Larceny, and attempt to commit a crime (R.A. "17",<br />

nos. 216-219), and after a subsequent jury hearing<br />

defendant was sentenced as an habitual offender to<br />

20 years for burglary, 5 years for larceny, and<br />

2 years probation for attempt to commit a crime<br />

(K.A. "17-18").<br />

On August 26, 2010, defendant filed with the<br />

II<br />

Single Justice a Motion Requesting Leave to Re-<br />

instate Appeal," and on September 17, 2010, a<br />

"Motion To File Late Appeal From Petition To<br />

Supreme Judicial Court For Relief Pursuant To<br />

G.L.c. <strong>211</strong>, 8 3, From A Superior Court Order<br />

Requiring Petitioner to Wear A Global Positioning<br />

System (GPS) Device As A Condition of His Release<br />

On Bail," which was allowed by the Single Justice<br />

(Cordy, J.)(R.A. "41").<br />

On October 25, 2010, defendant's "Motion To<br />

Enter Appeal On Docket Before The Full Supreme<br />

1,<br />

Judicial Court, was allowed (R.A. "42").<br />

On Decemebr 13, 2010, defendant's "Motion<br />

To Extend Time To File Brief To January 20, 2011,"<br />

was allowed (R.A. "43").<br />

4


STATEMENT aF FACTS<br />

On January 6, 2008, defendant was arrested at<br />

the scene of an alleged early morning housebreak,<br />

and subsequently charged with burglary, larceny,<br />

resisting. arrest, and possession.of burglarious<br />

tools.<br />

On January 8, 2008, defendmt was arraigned<br />

in Cambridge District Court, and held in custody<br />

in lieu of bail. On February 7, 2008, defendant<br />

was indicted by. a Middlesex County grand jury<br />

(nos. 2008-00164, 001-008). .an February 25,'.2008,<br />

aGfendant was arraigned- in Middlesex .Superior<br />

Court, and upon the Commonwealth's 'request, the<br />

defendant was held in custody on '$25,000.00 cash<br />

bail (R.A. "3").<br />

Most significant was the fact that the<br />

defendant was allowed to proceed "Pro Se" in<br />

representing himself in all aspects of his<br />

criminal case after he received a full colloquy<br />

from the court (Gershengorn, J.)(R.A. "3", no.<br />

From March 25, 2008, through July 10, 2009<br />

the Pro Se defendant filed discovery motions and<br />

requests to interview the Commonwealth's witnesses<br />

(R.A. "3-12", nos. 14-152). However, the Commonwealth<br />

5


consistently impeded and interferred with the Pro<br />

Se defendant's attempt to gather evidence in support<br />

of his defense. The adversarial tension became so<br />

acute that the Pro Se defendant was substantially<br />

and unfairly deprived of his constitutional rights<br />

to due process and equal protection of the law where<br />

the prosecuting attorney systematically withheld<br />

exculpatory evidence and systematica1I.y cutoff a ll<br />

avenues of the Pro Se defendant to prepare an<br />

adequate defense by misusing the superior resources<br />

of the state.<br />

On August 3, 2009, the Pro Se defendant filed<br />

a "Motion For Protective Order Prohibiting Common-<br />

wealth And/or Its Agents From Interfsrring With<br />

Defense," which is a constitutional right under the<br />

6th Amendment; however, the motion was denied by<br />

the court (Kottmyer, J.)(R.A. "44-46").<br />

On August 8, 2009, based on two recently<br />

decided cases, 2/ the defendant filed, in Middle-<br />

It<br />

sex Superior Court, an Emergency Motion To Vacate<br />

Electronic (GPS) Bracelet As A Condition of Bail<br />

Due To Recent Supereme Judicial Court Decisions,<br />

to remove the GPS electronic bracelet as a condition<br />

2/ Commonwealth v. Raposo, 453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 739 (May 7,<br />

2009) and Emelio E. v.~ Commonwealth, 453 <strong>Mass</strong>.1024<br />

(May 7, 2009).<br />

6<br />

,I


of bail whereas the defendant was awaiting trial<br />

and he was - not a convicted sex offender as required<br />

by G.L.c. 265, 5 47. The hearing judge (Kottmyer,<br />

J.) claimed that the two recent decisions did not<br />

apply, and that her reading o f the bail statute<br />

allowed her the discretion to place the deEendant<br />

on a GPS bracelet as a condition of bail, and denied<br />

the motion (Kottrnyer, J.)(R.A. "13", no. 163). 3/<br />

On August 26, 2009, the defendant's mother<br />

posted his bail in the amount of $5,000.00 cash;<br />

however, after defendant signed the bail receipt,<br />

the defendant was told that he would not be released<br />

at that time because a "hold" was placed on him until<br />

the GPS monitoring base unit was installed at his<br />

house, and the GPS electronic bracelet was affixed<br />

to his ankle (R.A. "24"). The defendant was then<br />

returned to custody at MCI Concord as a pretrial<br />

detainee under 52A status (G.L.C. 265, 5 52A).<br />

On Septemebr 2, 2009, seven days later, the<br />

GPS monitoring base unit was installed at defendant's<br />

house, the defendant was fitted with the electronic<br />

monitoring device, and released from custody (R.A.<br />

"13", no. 164).<br />

3/ Three months prior, in Commonwealth v. Vallejo,<br />

455 <strong>Mass</strong>. 72 (Mav -, 5. , 2009). a decision bv the<br />

same judge (Kottmyer, J.)-was reversed regarding<br />

her misapplication of G.L.c. 265, 5 47.<br />

7


On September 8, 2009, the defendnat appeared<br />

at a hearing on his "Petition To Remove Electronic<br />

Bracelet As A Condition of Bail," where he again<br />

complained to the court that he was - not a sex<br />

offender, and that his liberty was substantially<br />

circumscribed, especially where he was precluded<br />

from visiting his younger brother (Paul Aldrich)<br />

who had recently suffered a massive brain aneurysm<br />

and was receiving long term treatment at a New<br />

Hampshire rehabilitation center. The hearing judge<br />

threatened to return the defendant "back to the can"<br />

if he refused to wear the GPS bracelet. When the<br />

defendant attempted to cite the two recent decisions<br />

(see n. 2), the hearing judge simply stated that<br />

they do not apply. The Probation Officer then<br />

requested a modification of the bail conditions<br />

(R.A. "33").<br />

The hearing judge (Conners, J.) accepted the<br />

Probation Officer's recommended rnodifictions, over<br />

defendant's objection, and imposed a residential<br />

curfew from 8 :OO PM to 6:OO AM, and allowed defendant<br />

to visit his seriously ill brother in New Hampshire<br />

on the weekends. However, defendant was required<br />

to wear GPS bracelet at all times (R.A. "33").<br />

8


On September 8, and 18, 2009, the Pro se<br />

defendant filed with the Single Justice of the<br />

Supreme Judicial Court a "Motion Requesting<br />

Emergency Ex Parte Hearing'' and a "Petition For<br />

Relief Pursuant To F.L,c. <strong>211</strong>, 8 3", seeking<br />

an order to vacate the lower court's misapplica-<br />

tion of G.L.c. 265, $ 47, forcing defendant to<br />

wear a GPS electronic bracelet. However, both<br />

matters were denied without a hearing (Cordy, J.)<br />

(R.A. "36-40").<br />

While on bail, the defendnat was ridiculed,<br />

ostracized, and harassed by family, friends, and<br />

the public in general. So much so that family and<br />

friends made it known to the defendant that they<br />

did not want the defendant to be around their<br />

children unsupervised because the court would not<br />

have put the defendant on a GPS electronic bracelet<br />

if he was not a sex offender.<br />

The defendant was stopped by the police on<br />

several occasions, allegedly to check his license<br />

and registration for some contrived motor vehicle<br />

infraction, but never given a citation. Defendant's<br />

movements were being closely monitored by police<br />

and other law enforcement entities with access to<br />

the GPS monitoring system.<br />

9


The defendant receieved numerous telephone<br />

calls on his cell phone from the GPS monitoring<br />

office questioning him about his whereabouts and<br />

curfew compliance, and whether he was near any<br />

parks or playgrounds. The defendant repeatedly<br />

complained that -he was - not a sex offender,<br />

and demanded to speak with the GPS monitoring<br />

system supervisor. After several convcrsations<br />

with the GPS monitoring supervisor the defendant<br />

was instructed to go back to the court and get<br />

them to vacate the GPS bracelet as a condition<br />

of bail, but until then the defendant had to<br />

remain in compliance or a warrant would be issue<br />

for his arrest.<br />

On October 22, 2009, the Pro Se defendant<br />

filed a "Motion To Vacate Curfew Due To Use Of<br />

11<br />

Electronic GFS Bracelet Tracking System, in<br />

Middlesex Superior Court (R.A. "13", no. 168).<br />

The prosecuting attorney reiterated that they<br />

wanted to monitor the defendant's movements<br />

while on bail to ensure that he did not violate<br />

a 1000 feet stay away order from the home that<br />

was burglarized, to ensure his appearance in<br />

court, and to monitor his involvement in any<br />

criminal activity. Again, the defendant argued<br />

10


that he was - not a convicted sex offender, and<br />

that he was on bail for property related crimes.<br />

The defendant also argued that the government<br />

had an uLterior motive €or placing the Pro Se<br />

defendant an the GPS tracking device so as to<br />

monitor and conduct 24 hour surveillance on<br />

the defendant‘s movements as he prepared his<br />

case for trial. The hearing judge (Muse, J.),<br />

threatened to revoke defendant’s bail and have<br />

him placed back in custody i f the defendant<br />

persisted with his challenge to the conditions<br />

of bail that he wear a GPS bracelet, The motion<br />

was then denied (R.A. “13” , no. 168).<br />

The Pro Se defendant then complained to<br />

the Middlesex Superior Court Chief Frobation<br />

Officer (Joyce Coleman), that the Probation<br />

Department did not have the legal authority to<br />

maintain supervision over the defendant through<br />

the use of GFS monitoring because the defendant<br />

-<br />

was not a sex offender. The Chief Probation<br />

Officer agreed that there was a conflict, but<br />

that there was nothing she could do except to<br />

notify the Commissioner of Probation about the<br />

problem.<br />

11


The Pro Se defendant sent an email to the<br />

Commissioner of Probation complaining that the<br />

probation department did not have the authority<br />

to maintain probation supervision over the defendant<br />

through the use of GPS monitoring because the<br />

defendant was I_<br />

not a convicted sex offender. The<br />

defendant received a telephone call from someone<br />

from the Commissioner of Probation's office who<br />

advised the defendant that the probation dept.<br />

had hundreds of people on the GPS electronic<br />

bracelet, and that the defendant would have to<br />

petition the court to be taken off of the GPS<br />

electronic bracelet, otherwise a warrant would<br />

be issued for his arrest if he removed the GPS<br />

electronic bracelet on his own or failed to<br />

comply with the corresponding conditions.<br />

When the Pro Se defendant attempted to<br />

interview the Commonwealth's witnesses, he was<br />

met with fierce resistance from the prosecuting<br />

attorney, who continuously refused to comply with<br />

mandatory discovery and would not provide the Pro<br />

Se defendant with the names and address of the<br />

Commonwealth's witnesses. Standby counsel (Bruce<br />

Ferg) advised the Pro Se defendant not to attempt<br />

to contact any of the Commonwealth's witnesses<br />

. .<br />

12


else he would be setting himself up for a claim<br />

of violating the conditions of bail.<br />

By this point, the Pro Se defendant had<br />

exercised every conceivable option available t o<br />

him to seek relief through the courts. The Pro Se<br />

defendant was hardpressed and hedged in by the<br />

government on all sides, and completely stymied<br />

in his ability to develope a defense due to the<br />

government's constant interference by systematic-<br />

ally inEringing upon and/or supplanting his<br />

constitutional rights to formulate a defense, all<br />

of which is connected, in whole or in part, to the<br />

government's use of the GPS electronic bracelet to<br />

monitor, track, and maintain a constant surveillance<br />

of the Pro Se defendant a5 he prepared for trial.<br />

On December 2, 2009, five days before the<br />

start of trial, as a last resort, the Pro Se<br />

defendant filed a "Motion Requesting Court Order<br />

To Interview Commonwealth's Witnesses For Trial<br />

Purposes" (R.A. "47"). During the pretrial hearing,<br />

the prosecutor objected to the Pro Se defendant<br />

being allowed to interview its witnesses, and she<br />

would not provide the defendant with the names and<br />

addresses of the Commonwealth's witnesses. The<br />

hearing judge (Muse, J.), realizing 'chat this has<br />

13


een an ongoing problem, allowed the motion, in<br />

part; however, as a precondition, the hearing judge<br />

issued an unusual order requiring the Pro Se defendant<br />

to write a letter to the Commonwealth's witnesses,<br />

and give the letters to the prosecutor to review the<br />

contents, as a prerequisite, and the prosecutor would<br />

then transmit the letters to the witnesses whom the<br />

Pro Se defendant wanted to interview (R.A. "I&", no.<br />

171).<br />

Standby counsel (Bruce Ferg) then advised the<br />

defendant to - not write any letters which the Common-<br />

wealth would be allowed to review beforc the letters<br />

were transmitted to the witnesses because it would<br />

be a direct violation of defendant's 6th amendment<br />

rights.<br />

On December 7, 2009, the Pro Se defendant filed<br />

a "Motion To Continue Trial Date,<br />

wherein on ground two he argued that he was 'I... not<br />

properly prepared for trial where he has been engaged<br />

in the process of interviewing the Commonwealth's<br />

witnesses and evidence before trial, " (R+A. "48").<br />

The motion was denied (Muse, J.)(R.A. "14" , no. 185).<br />

On the same date, the prosecuting attorney<br />

I,<br />

citing four grounds,<br />

filed "Commonwealth List of Potential Witnesses,<br />

14<br />

I,


which, remarkably, contained a list of 21 witnesses<br />

(R.A. "49-50").<br />

The Pro Se defendant strenguously objected and<br />

argued that the Commonwealth had manipulated the<br />

process for disclosure and access to its witnesses<br />

-<br />

for nearly two years, while at the same time with-<br />

holding the names and addresses of its witnesses<br />

until the day of trial, in violation of mandatory<br />

discovery. The Pro Se defendant further argued that<br />

where the court was forcing him to trial the next<br />

day (12/08/09), after having just received a list<br />

of 21 witnesses from the Commonwealth that day<br />

(12/07/09), would result in a "trial by ambush."<br />

The trial judge (Muse, J.) stated that the dcfen-<br />

dant's objection was "duly noted,"and he then<br />

threatened the defendant that if he appeared late<br />

for trial the next day, the court would revoke<br />

defendantls bail, and have him taken back into<br />

custody (R.A. "48").<br />

All the while, the government maintained a<br />

constant surveillance of the Pro 5e defendant's<br />

movements and activities through GPS electronic<br />

moitoring and tracking.<br />

On December 8, 2009, the defendant filed<br />

II<br />

Defendant's Motion For Continuance Of Trial And<br />

II<br />

Waiver of Rule 36 Speedy Trial Right, citing<br />

15


several grounds, including the issue that he was<br />

being placed at a substantial disadvanatge by not<br />

being afforded the opportunity to interview the<br />

Commonwealth’s witnesses, especially where the<br />

Commonwealth filed an extensive witness list on<br />

the previous day (12/07/09). The trial judge (Muse,<br />

J.) again noted defendant’s objection, and denied<br />

the motion (R.A. “51”). After jury selection and<br />

enpanellrnent, the session was adjourned, and trial<br />

was to begin the next day.<br />

On December 8, 2009, later that afternoon,<br />

the defendant went to the office of attorney Lisa<br />

S. Belanger, i n Medford to discuss trial strategies<br />

and defenses. Attorney Belanger called the GPS<br />

monitoring center and requested additional time<br />

for the defendant to prepare for trial at her<br />

office; however, that request was denied. The<br />

defendant was instructed to step outside so that<br />

the GPS monitoring center could re-adjust their<br />

GPS tracking monitor.<br />

Shortly after the defendant left attorney<br />

Belanger’s office, the GPS tracking system<br />

recognized that the defendant was no longer at<br />

attorney Belanger’s office. While at Men’s Wear-<br />

house, the defendant received a phone call on his<br />

cellular phone from a Cambridge Police Officer,<br />

16


who threatened the defendant with additional<br />

criminal charges for unsolved burglaries if<br />

the defendant went forward with the trial. The<br />

police officer went on to 'cell the defendant that<br />

he should not challenge the background and train-<br />

ing of his fellow female officer, and that the<br />

defendant was stupid for representing himself.<br />

The police officer then threatened the defendant<br />

to plead guilty to save themalot of trouble or<br />

he would talk with the D.A. and make sure the<br />

defendant received 20 years retirement in prison.<br />

The defendant became fearful and intimidated by<br />

the phone call from the police officer, and he<br />

was sure that the call was only made to him<br />

after he left attorney Eelanger's office, which<br />

would have been easily known through GP5 monitor-<br />

iong, tracking, and surveillance.<br />

The defendant then called attorney Belanger<br />

and told her about the threatening phone call<br />

he received from a Cambridge Police Officer.<br />

Attorney Belanger was deeply concerned about the<br />

telephone threats from a police officer, and she<br />

advised the defendant to get a copy of the METRO<br />

PCS Cellular phone record as evidence before<br />

bringing the matter to the attention of the Court<br />

(B.A. "52-53").<br />

17


The defendant then informed Ms. Marie Williams<br />

(owner of the cellular phone) about the telephone<br />

threats from a police officer, and Ms. Williams<br />

stated that she would get a copy of the METRO PCS<br />

cellular phone records as soon as possible. (R.A.<br />

"54-55").<br />

The defendant also contacted his legal assist-<br />

ant, Ms. Joe Younge, and informed her about the<br />

threatening phone call from a police officer, and<br />

Ms. Younge also advised the defendant to get a copy<br />

of the METRO PCS cellular phone records as proof<br />

before bringing the matter to the attention of the<br />

court (R.A. "56-57").<br />

The defendant had been leery about aggressively<br />

pursuing defense leads and questioning potential<br />

witnesses because of the GPS monitoring, tracking,<br />

and surveillance, and his reluctance was proven<br />

to have some merit as a result of the timing of<br />

the threatening phone call from a police officer<br />

shortly after leaving attorney Relanger's office,<br />

and a day before the start of trial. All of which<br />

was aimed at interfering and inlfuencing trial<br />

proceedings. While at the same time, the defen-<br />

dant had to endure constant harassment, ridicule,<br />

and ostracization by being mislablled as a sex<br />

offender wearing a GPS electronic bracelet.<br />

18<br />

.


As a result of three months of constant GPS<br />

monitoring, tracking, and surveillance, which<br />

culminated in a threatening phone call from a<br />

police officer the day before trial, the Pro Se<br />

defendant has reason to be fearful and leery,<br />

The PKO se defendant changed his defense, and<br />

decided to not testify on his own behalf at trial.<br />

After closing arguments and jruy instructions,<br />

as the jury was leaving the courtroom for delibera-<br />

tion, the trial judge instructed the defendant to<br />

remain in the courtraom (the Pro Se defendant was<br />

preparing to leave the courtroom to call the<br />

missing witnesses). The trial judge (Muse, J.),<br />

then ordered that court officers to take the<br />

Pro Se defendant into custody. When the defendant<br />

asked the trial judge what was going on, the trial<br />

judge stated that he was revoking the dgfendant's<br />

bail. The defendant argued that he had not violated<br />

the conditions of his bail or the GPS consitions,<br />

and that the Commonwealth did not request that the<br />

defendant's bail be revoked. The trial judge stated<br />

that he was revoking the defendant's bail, "sua<br />

sponte. 1,<br />

Though the trial was still in progress, the Pro<br />

Se defmdant was taken into custody and placed in<br />

19


the court holding cell. When attorney Lisa Belanger<br />

attempted to visit the defendant in the holding cell,<br />

attorney Belanger was denied access to the defendant<br />

by the court officer who informed attorney Belanger<br />

I' I'<br />

that it was per order of the judge.<br />

Though the trial was still in process, the Pro<br />

Se defendant was taken into custody and placed in<br />

the court holding cell. When attorney Lisa Belanger<br />

attempted to visit the defendant in the holding cell,<br />

attorney Belanger was denied access to the defendant<br />

by the court officer who informed attorney Belanger<br />

that it was "per order of the judge.<br />

The defendant was found guilty by the jury, and<br />

after a subsequent hearing, the trial judge (Muse,<br />

J.) sentenced the defendant to 20 years as a habitual.<br />

offender for burglary, two concurrent 5 year sentences<br />

for larcenies, and 2 years probation from and after<br />

for attempt to commit a crime (B.A. "17-18").<br />

Shortly thereafter, the GPS electronic bracelet<br />

was removed from the defendant's ankle, and the<br />

defendant was transported to MCI Cedar Junction.<br />

Three months later, on March 27, 2010, Ms.<br />

Marie Williams received a copy of her METRO PCS<br />

cellular phone records (857-251-5661), which revealed<br />

the date, time, duration and incoming telephone<br />

number of the phone used to make the threatening<br />

T I


phone call to the defendant from a police officer<br />

(Christopher Burke), on 12/8/2009, at 17:OO (5 PM),<br />

which lasted approximately 14:09 minutes (R.A. "52-<br />

53").<br />

The phone records also show that the defendant<br />

had, in fact, called attorney Lisa S.' Relanger,<br />

(617-510-6212)(R.A. "53"), .Ms. Marie Williams,<br />

(617-436-5127)(B.A. "s"), and Ms. Joe Younge<br />

(617-800-5851)(R.A. "51"), after he received the<br />

threatening phone call from a police officer (617-<br />

349-3385) (R. A * "53").<br />

To verify the incoming phone number from. the<br />

police officer who threatened the defendant a day<br />

before trial, the defendant was able to obtain a<br />

copy of the internet informational phone directory<br />

for the ''City of Cambridge Police Department ,"<br />

{R.A. "%"), where he €ound that the incoming<br />

telephone number 617-349-3385 belonged to Cambridge<br />

Police Officer, "Christopher Burke," (R.A. "56").<br />

On July 9, 2010, the defendant received an<br />

affidavit from attorney Lisa Siege1 Belanger which<br />

recited the fact that the defendent was in her<br />

office just. prior to the threatening phone call,<br />

that the defendant called her imrned.iately after<br />

receiving the threatening phone call, and her<br />

advice to obta-in a copy O f the cellular telephone<br />

21


ecords (R,A. "59-60") - 4/<br />

In response to the defendant's allegations<br />

of police misconduct and threats from a police<br />

officer before trial, 5/ the government filed<br />

its opposition with an attached affidavit from<br />

II<br />

"Christopher J. Burke, wherein officer Burke<br />

admitted t o calling the Pro Se defendant and to<br />

the contents of the telephone conversation;<br />

however, officer Burke did not admit to threat-<br />

ening and/or intimidating the defendant a day<br />

before trial (R.A. "6T-62"). Moreover, officer<br />

Burke did not admit or deny whether the Pro Se<br />

defendant was the subject of governmental GPS<br />

surveillance and tracking while on bail (R.A.<br />

"61 -62" 1.<br />

4/ Attorney Belanger mistakenly listed the<br />

name as Officer Gallagher, when, in fact,<br />

the Officer's .. . name was "Christopher Burke,"<br />

(Ria.. 1'.6L-62")<br />

5/ The defendant's Motion for New Trial was<br />

denied without a hearing (Muse, J., 09/<br />

21/2010)(B.A. "21", n. 271. & 274).<br />

22.


A R G U M E N T S<br />

1. WHERE A COURT ORDERED THE PROBATION DEPT. <strong>TO</strong><br />

ATTACH A "GPS DEVICE" ON A PRETRIAL DEFENDANT,<br />

WHO WAS <strong>NO</strong>T A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, THE COURT<br />

EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY AND VIOLATED THE SEPARA-<br />

TION OFPOWERSEY GOING BEYOND THE LEGISLATIVE<br />

INTENT AND AUTHORITY OF G.L.C. 265, 5 47, IN<br />

VIOLATION OF ART. 30 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DE-<br />

CLAWTION OF RIGHTS<br />

In 2006, the <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Legislature enacted<br />

M.G.L.c, 265, S 47; entitled as "Probation of Sex<br />

Of fenders ; Geographic Exclusion Zones ; GPS." (Adden-<br />

dum, p. I), Section 47 reads, in part:<br />

"Any person who is placed on probation for any<br />

offense listed within the definition of "sex<br />

offense", a "sex offense involving a child'' or<br />

I,<br />

a sexually violent offense", as defined in<br />

section 178C of chapter 6 , shall, as a requirement<br />

of any term of probation, wear a global<br />

positioning system device, or any comparable<br />

device, administered by the commission of<br />

probation, at all times for the length of his<br />

II<br />

probation for any offense.<br />

The Legislature did - not enact any other corre:<br />

spending or ancillary statues or amendments which<br />

expressly authorize the warrantless use of a "GPS<br />

device", especially on pretrial defendants who are<br />

- not convicted sex offenders. See Legislative history<br />

of Acts 2006, 303 5 8. Also see Commonwealth v.<br />

Connolly, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>, 808, 818-826 (2009).<br />

The <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Constitution Declaration of<br />

11<br />

Rights Art. 30: Separation of Executive, Judicial,<br />

23<br />

._


and Legislative Departments", (Addendum, p. 9),<br />

clearly states, in part:<br />

"the judicial shall never exercise the legis-<br />

lative and executive powers, or either of<br />

them: to the end it may be a government of<br />

laws and not of men. I,<br />

Here, a Superior Court judge exceeded his authority<br />

and violated the "Separation of Powers" of Art. 30 when<br />

he ordered the probation department to attach a "GPS<br />

device" to the defendant as a condition of bail, where<br />

the defendant was - not and is - not a convictedsexoffender<br />

pursuant t o G.L.c. 265, 47. (R.A. "33").<br />

A Superior Court judge does not have "unfettered<br />

discretion" to act outside the scope and authority of<br />

a statute. Commonwealth v. Guzman, 446 <strong>Mass</strong>. 344 (2006);<br />

Rosenbloom v. Kokofsky, 375 <strong>Mass</strong>. 778 (1977)(Scope and<br />

auithority of Supreme Judicial Court to interpret and<br />

apply statues is limited by its constitutional role as<br />

judicial, rather than, legislative body); and Selectmen<br />

of Milton v. Justice of Dist. Ct., 286 <strong>Mass</strong>. 1 (1934)<br />

(No legislative or executive powers can be constitution-<br />

ally conferred upon the courts. That is strickly for-<br />

bidden by this [Art. 301 provision).<br />

Thus, where defendant was not sentenced, not on<br />

probation, and not a convicted sex offender, the court<br />

violated Art, 30 by imposing "GPS device" on him,<br />

which exceeded the authority of G.L.c. 265, 8 47, See<br />

and compare Commonwealth v. Donohue, 452 <strong>Mass</strong>. 256 (2008).<br />

24


A R G U M E N T S<br />

2. WHERE PRETRIAL DEFENDANT WAS <strong>NO</strong>T A CONVICTED<br />

SEX OFFENDER, THE COURT ERRED IN ORDERING THE<br />

DEFENDANT, <strong>PURSUANT</strong> <strong>TO</strong> G.L.C. 265, 5 47, <strong>TO</strong><br />

WEAR A GPS BRACELET AS A CONDITION OF HIS BAIL<br />

AND PRETRIAL PROBATION, WlCH INFRINGED ON<br />

THE DEFENDANT'S LIBERTY RIGHTS UNDER THE 4TH.<br />

This is a case of "FIRST IMPRESS<strong>TO</strong>N," which is<br />

of constitutional importance where a lower court judge<br />

incorrectly ordered a pretrial defendant, who was not<br />

a convicted sex offender, to wear a Global Positioning<br />

System (GPS) device as a condition of his release on<br />

bail, pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 47. (Addendum, p. 1)"<br />

A. Can the GPS monitoring requirement of $ 47 be<br />

imposed upon a pretrial defendant who is not<br />

a convicted sex offender?<br />

The defendant contends that the GPS monitoring<br />

requirement of G.L.c. 265, 5 47, can - not be imposed<br />

on a pretrial defendant who is not a convicted sex<br />

offender, and to do so would violate the Fourth,<br />

Fifth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the<br />

United States Constitution, and Articles Twelve and<br />

Fourteen of the <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Constitution Declara-<br />

tion of rights to freedom a,nd liberty. '(Addendm,.p. .2-8).<br />

;\ The Addendum is hereto attached which contain<br />

reference pages pertaining to federal and state<br />

constitutions, statutes, and relevant case l aws.<br />

25


There are only - two known cases cited in<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>achusetts which challenged the application<br />

of G.L.c. 265, 5 47, where a lower court judge<br />

required that an untried defendant wear a GPS<br />

monitoring device as a condition of pretrial<br />

release, and in BOTH cases this Court granted<br />

relief. See Commonwealth v. Raposo, 453 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

739 (2009) and Emelio E. v. Commonwealth, 453<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. 1024 (2009).<br />

, In Raposo, supra, this Court elected to<br />

not address the five reported questions pertain-<br />

ing to various constitutional issues associated<br />

with the application of G.L.c. 265, 5 47 to<br />

persons placed on probation for certain sex<br />

offenses and required to wear a GPS monitoring<br />

device. In Raposo, supra at 742, this Court<br />

left open and undecided five reported questions,<br />

and ruled that "[b]ecause we conclude that 5 47<br />

does not apply to a person, such as the defendant<br />

in this case, who is placed oh probation before<br />

trial or entry of guilty plea or admission to<br />

sufficient facts, and not as part of a sentence<br />

or disposition following conviction, we need not<br />

reach the reported constitutional questions.<br />

Raposo, supra at 733.<br />

26<br />

1,


In Emelio E, V. Commonwealth, 453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 1024<br />

(2009), this Court was faced with a similar issue<br />

whether G.L.c. 265, 8 47, required that Emelio E.<br />

I,<br />

wear a global positioning system (GPS) device as<br />

a mandatory condition of his release on probation<br />

pending trial." Emelio, supra at 560. In deciding<br />

Emelio, this Court relied on its prior decision<br />

in Raposo, supra at 740, holding that S 47 "does<br />

not apply to persons placed on probation prior to<br />

trial and prior to conviction or entry of a plea<br />

oradmission to facts sufficient for a finding of<br />

guilty." Emphasis added. Emelio, supra at 1024<br />

Though Raposo, was placed on pretrial proba-<br />

tion pursuant to G.L.c. 276, s 87, this Court<br />

rejected the Commonwealth's argument that 8 47<br />

must be interpreted harmoniously with G.L.c. 276,<br />

5 87. Simply put, this Court stated: "[t]he<br />

I,<br />

argument is not persuasive. Raposo, supra at<br />

748. Cf. Commonwealth v. Donohue, 452 <strong>Mass</strong>. 256 (2008).<br />

Conversely, Emelio, was released on bail<br />

with supervised release through the probation<br />

department pursuant to G.L.c. 276, 5 58. Again<br />

this Court reiterated its holding in Raposo,<br />

supra at 740, that 5 47 "does not apply topersons


placed on probation prior to trial and prior to<br />

conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or admission<br />

to facts sufficient for a finding of guilty." Emphasis<br />

added. Emelio, supra at 1024. Also of significant<br />

importance is the fact that this Court concludedthat<br />

the distinction between G.L.c. 276, $ 87 and G.L.c.<br />

276, 3 58, had "no bearing on our resolution of this<br />

I1<br />

cnse. Emelio, supra at n. 3.<br />

Therefore, based on Raposo and Emelio, supra,<br />

as a matter of judicial precendence (stare decisis),<br />

the issue is now well settled thatapretrialdefendant<br />

cannot be required to wear a global positioning system<br />

(GPS) device (pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 471, whether<br />

he is released from custody on pretrial probation<br />

pursuant to G.L.G. 276, 5 87 (Raposo, supra a t 740),<br />

or bail pursuant to G.L.c. 276, 5 58 (Emelio, supra<br />

at n. 3). Moreover, as a matter of statutory inter-<br />

pretation, this Court concluded from the language<br />

and history of G.L.c. 265, s 47, "that the <strong>Mass</strong>-<br />

achusetts legislature intends a global positioning<br />

system requirement to apply only to convicted<br />

individuals." Raposo, supra at 748.<br />

Though both Raposo and Emelio were charged with<br />

sex offenses, as defined by G.L.c. 6, § 178C);<br />

however, Emelio was awaiting trial and had "not


admitted to facts u€ficient for such an<br />

cation. The judge was therefore incorrect<br />

djudi-<br />

concluding that 5 47 required imposition of GPS<br />

monitoring in this case." Emelio, supra at 1024-<br />

1025.<br />

In the instant matter, the defendant was<br />

- -<br />

not and is not a convicted sex offender (R.A.<br />

"63-78"). 6/ See G.L.c. 6, 5 178C (to which<br />

5 47 refers for other definitions), defining a<br />

[s]ex offender'' as a person II who has been convicted<br />

I'<br />

of a sex offense. Commonwealth v. Raposo, 453<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. 739, n. 8 (2009).<br />

Moreover, the defendant was awaiting trial<br />

in Middlesex Superior Court (no. 2008-0164) for<br />

non sex related crimes, i.e. burglary, larceny,<br />

larceny, attempt to comitt a crime, burglarious<br />

'cool, destruction of property, resisting arrest,<br />

and false name violation (R.A. ''1").<br />

On September 2 , 2009, like Emelio, supra at<br />

560, this defendant was released on bail pending<br />

trial with the requirement that he wear a global<br />

positioning system (GPS) monitoring device, and<br />

supervision by the Middlesex Superior Court<br />

Probation Department (R.A. "10").<br />

6/ A copy of defendant's entire juvenile and<br />

adult-criminal adult criminal record i s attached (R.A."63-<br />

78" ) .<br />

___<br />

29<br />

in


However, the defendant was not released until<br />

the Middlesex Superior Court Probation Department<br />

installed the GPS rnon'itoring base unit at defendant's<br />

home, and attached the GPS ankle bracelet and trans-.<br />

ponder to the defendant's person (R.A. "13", n. 164),<br />

pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 5 47. -(Addendum, p. i)<br />

The defendant,€iled numerous motions challenging<br />

the imposition of the GPS monitoring, device as a<br />

condition o€ his release, .pursuant to G.L.c. 276, 8<br />

47 (R,A. "13", n. 163, 167, and 168; R.A. "25-30";<br />

R.A. "33-35"; and B.A. "36-38"). And at all times,<br />

the defendant objected t o the imposition of the<br />

GPS monitoring device,, and complained to the court<br />

that he was - not a convicted sex offender, as required<br />

by G.L.c. 276, $47. Cf. Commonwealth v. Cory, 454<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. 559 (2009); Commonwealth v.. Vallejo, 455 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

72 (2009): and Commonwealth v. Blake, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>. 267<br />

(2009) (Adjudicated a sexual dangerous person).<br />

The defendant endured constant harassment,<br />

bullying, ridicule, humiliation, and ostracization<br />

as being mislabeled as'an infamous "sex offender"<br />

I,<br />

and sexual predator" due to observations of the<br />

GPS monitoring bracelet and transponder, Similarly,<br />

this Court has said that the sex registry require-<br />

ment "presents an importantly distinct kind of<br />

30


constitutional danger, because it forces an action<br />

on the person required to register. It is a contin-<br />

uing, intrusive, and humiliating regulation of the<br />

person himself," Doe v. Sex O€fender Registry Bd.,<br />

450 <strong>Mass</strong>. 780, 792 (2008); quoted in Commonwealth<br />

v. Cory, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>. 559, 570, (2009).<br />

It is publically andprivately humiliating and<br />

stressful to be harassed as a convicted sex offender,<br />

-<br />

but moreso when a person is not a convicted sex<br />

offender simply because he or she i s forced to<br />

wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and transponder.<br />

In Cory, supra at 570, this Court addressed the<br />

potential consequences of when the State physically<br />

att&hes a GPS device to a person, and stated:<br />

11<br />

As 'continuing, intrusive, and humiliating'<br />

as a yearly registration requirement might<br />

be, a requirement permanently to attach a<br />

CPS device seems dramatically more intrusive<br />

and burdensome. There is no context other<br />

than punsihment in which the State physically<br />

attaches an item to a person, without consent<br />

and also without consideration of individual<br />

circumstances, that must remain attached €or<br />

a period of years and may not be tampered<br />

with or removed on penalty of imprisonment.<br />

Such an imposition is a serious, affirmative<br />

restraint." Cory at 570.<br />

33


This Court further stated the following:<br />

"To the extent that the ankle bracelet<br />

portion of the GPS device i s potentially<br />

visible to the public, it may have the<br />

additional punitive effect of exposing<br />

the offender t o persecution or ostracism,<br />

or at least placing the offender i n fear<br />

of such consequences. Cf. Smith v. Doe,<br />

538 U.S. 84, 115 (2003)(Cinsburg, J.<br />

dissenting)(affirrnative restraint estab-<br />

, lished by "profound humiliation and community<br />

wide ostracism" of sex offender registry);<br />

Note, Who Are The People in your Neighbor-<br />

hood? Due Process, Public Protection,<br />

And Sex Offender Notification Laws, 74 N.Y.<br />

U. L. Rev. 1451, 1467-1469 (1999)(describing<br />

acts of violence against sex offenders).<br />

Cf. also N. Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter 58<br />

(1871)("Ah, but ... let her cover the<br />

mark as she will, the pang Gf it will be always<br />

in her heart")." Cory, at TI. 18.<br />

Moreover, it can be forcefully argued that<br />

such a stressful situation had a mjor impact on<br />

the Pro Se defendant, and substantially impaired<br />

his ability to prepare a defense for trial in<br />

violation of his 6th Amendment. right to the United<br />

States Constitution. See Faretta v. California,<br />

422 U.S. 806, 829 (1975)(The right to s elf rep-<br />

resentation and the right t o the making of a<br />

defense). See also Art. 12 Declaration of Rights.<br />

32<br />

.,


defense); McKaskle v. Wigpins, 465 U.S. 168, 173<br />

(1984)(A criminal defendant has the right t o<br />

conduct his own defense, provided only that he<br />

knowingly and intelligently forgoes his right to<br />

counsel and that he abides by rules of procedures<br />

and courtroom protocol); and Commonwealth v. Apple-<br />

&, 389 <strong>Mass</strong>. 359, 366, cert. denied, 464 U.S.<br />

841 (1983); and Commonwealth v. Martin, 425 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

718, 720-721 (1997).<br />

Thus, where a lower court judge abused his<br />

discretion and misapplied G.L.c. 276, 3 47, and<br />

required the Pro Se defendant t o wear a GPS monitor-<br />

ing tracking device during his pretrial release,<br />

-<br />

and defendant was not a convicted sex ofrender,<br />

was plain error, and the defendant i s entitled<br />

to relief, accordingly.<br />

B. Does G.L.c. 265, 3 47 impose a substantial<br />

burden on liberty through the use of the<br />

GPS monitoring and tracking system7<br />

This Court recently decided in Commonwealth<br />

v. Cory, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>. 559 (2009), that "AS a result<br />

of the substantial burden on liberty <strong>Mass</strong>. Gen.<br />

Laws Ch. 265, 3 47 imposes as part of the sentence<br />

for certain crimes, 5 47 is punitive in effect.<br />

Id at 572. See Doe v. Sex Offender Repistry Bd.,<br />

450 <strong>Mass</strong>. 780 (2008) ("Serious affirmative restraint").<br />

33<br />

11


Under the unusual. circumstances o f this<br />

case, where a Superior Court judge abused his<br />

discretion and exceeded the statutory authority<br />

of G.L.c. 265, 5 47 by arbitrarily and indiscri-<br />

minately imposing a GPS monitoring device on<br />

the defendant (hereafter "Aldrich"), who was<br />

_I not a convicted sex offender, resulted in a<br />

"substantial burden on [his] liberty," which<br />

clearly violated Aldrich's fundmental constitutionally<br />

protected rights under - both the federal<br />

and state constitutions. col-y, supra at 572.<br />

The Fourth Amendment of the United States<br />

Constitution guarantees that "the right of the<br />

people to be secure in their persons, houses, and<br />

effects' against unreasonable searches and seizures,<br />

shall. not be violated." Fourth Amendment, U.S.<br />

I<br />

I Const. (Addendum, p. 2).<br />

! Article.14 of the <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Constitution<br />

!<br />

~<br />

C. Governmental GPS monitoring tracking,<br />

t<br />

and surveillance of Aldrich s movements<br />

and activities, pursuant to G.L.c. 265,<br />

It7, violated Aldrich's fundamental<br />

constitutional rights under the Fourth<br />

Amendment and Art. 14 from unreasonable<br />

r,<br />

search e s " and " seizures I'<br />

Declaration of Rights gurarantees tha,t [Elvery<br />

subjectc'has a right to be secure from all unreason-<br />

able searches, and seizures, of his person, his<br />

tI<br />

house, his papers, and all of his possessions.<br />

.<br />

34


Art. 14 Declaration of Rights, <strong>Mass</strong>. Constitution<br />

(Addendum, p. 8).<br />

-<br />

First, under both the Fourth Amendment and<br />

Art. 14, unarguably, a person has an exclusionary<br />

right over his or her body, and a reasonable ex-<br />

pectation of privacy of hi6 or her person. Katz<br />

v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967)(Fourth Amend-<br />

ment expectation of privacy "protects people, not<br />

places"); Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757<br />

(1966)(Surgical intrusion into an individual's<br />

body €or evidence, however, implicates expectations<br />

of privacy. The overriding function of the Fourth<br />

Amendment i s to protect personal privacy and<br />

dignity against unwarranted intrusion by the<br />

state"); Virginia v. Moore, 128 S. Ct. 1598 (2008)<br />

(the Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable<br />

seizures of a person). See also Commonwealth V.<br />

Gomes, 453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 506, 507 n. 1 (2009); Comonwealth<br />

v. Blood, 400 <strong>Mass</strong>. 1 (1987)(Art. 14 expectation<br />

of privacy); and Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective<br />

Ass'n, Inc., v. State Racing Comm'n, 403 <strong>Mass</strong>. 692,<br />

706 (1989)(Art. 14 expectation of privacy of body<br />

in urine sample).<br />

-<br />

Second, under federal statute Title 10, c. 136,<br />

8 2281: Global Positioning System (GPS), the United<br />

35


States government retains sole authority and<br />

control over the Global Positioning System, which<br />

is maintained by the United States military under<br />

the authority of the Secretary of Defense. Federal<br />

Statute Title 10, c. 136, 5 2281. (Addendum, p. 10-12).<br />

Thus, when GPS technology is used by locaL law<br />

enforcement and state agencies, pursuant to G.L.c.<br />

265, 5 47 (intrusion by the state), and the state<br />

physically attaches the GPS devise to the body of<br />

a person (electronic fetters), that person is deemed<br />

"SEIZED", and the body of the person himself becomes<br />

the host property of the electronic device (GPS)<br />

used by the state to continuously monitor, track,<br />

and record personal data on the locations,movements,<br />

and activities oE convicted sex offenders, which<br />

implicates state sanction seizures that impinge<br />

upon a person's constitutional rights under the<br />

Fourth Amendment and Art. 14. 7/ commonwealth V.<br />

Cory, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>. 559 (2009); and Commonwealth V.<br />

Raposo, 453 <strong>Mass</strong>. 739 (2009).<br />

7/ See Richard G. Wright, Symposium: Parole and<br />

Probation: Sex Offender Post-Incarceration<br />

Sanctions: Are There Any Limits? (zoo$), New<br />

England Journal On Criminal and Civil Confine-<br />

ment; and R.J. Parker, Case Gommment: Common-<br />

wealth v. Morasse n. 1: Elome Confinement: Stret-<br />

ching the Limits On Restricting a Probationer's<br />

Liberty. (2008), New England Journal On Criminal<br />

and Civil Confinement.<br />

36


Here, where Aldrich was released on bail and<br />

he was - not a convicted sex offender (E.L.c. 6, 5 178C),<br />

when the government attached a GFS device to Aldrich's<br />

ankle II through means intentionally applied, II Brower v.<br />

County Inyo, 489 U,S. 593, 597 (1987), Aldrichwas, i n<br />

effect, unlawfully "SEIZED" by electronic fetters, which<br />

subjected him to "involuntary servitude," 8/ and where<br />

the government continuously monitored, tracked, and<br />

recorded the data on Aldrich's every movement and acti-<br />

vities; Aldrich was, in effect, unlawfully "SEARCHED"<br />

through the significant capabilities of GFS technology,<br />

which substantially impinged upon Aldrich's constitu-<br />

tional rights to his personal liberty and freedom of<br />

movement where the government used the body of Aldrich<br />

I,<br />

to conduct GPS monitoring for their own purposes<br />

II<br />

constitued a seizure. Commonwealth v. Connolly, 454<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. 808, 823 (2009); United States v. Karo, 468 U.S.<br />

705, n. 1 (1984)(tracking of beeper constituted seizure<br />

truck); Katz v. United states, 389 U.S. 347, 359 (1967)<br />

("Wherever a man may be, he is entitled to know that<br />

he will remain free from unreasonable search and<br />

II<br />

seizures. ). Also see and compare seizure in Schmerber<br />

v. California, 384 U.S. 757 (1966)(Fouth Amendment<br />

8/ Where Aldrich is an African American and he was<br />

I_ not duly convicted of. the underlying felonyat thetime<br />

when the GPS bracelet was attached to him, Aldrich<br />

claim that, in effect, he waa pressed into "involuntary<br />

servitude" to the State in violation of the Thirteenth<br />

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Addendum, p. 5).<br />

37


is to protect personal privacy and dignity against<br />

unwarranted intrusion by the state); California v*<br />

Hodari, 499 U.S. 621 (199lj(.Seizure of pers6n); and<br />

Virginia v. Moore , 553 "U. S. - (2008)(T€i-'-.F&rth . '<br />

Amendment protects against unreasonable seizures<br />

of a person). Also see Commonwealth V. Blood, 200<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. 1, 68 (1987)(Art 14 expectation of privacy);<br />

and Guiney v. Police Comm'r of Boston, 421 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

328 (1991)(Art. 14 expectation of privacy of one's<br />

body in urine or blood samples).<br />

Therefore, where Aldrich was - not a convicted<br />

sex offender, pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 5 47, the<br />

actions of the government in attaching a GPS device<br />

to ALdrich's body, "through means intentionally<br />

I, II<br />

applied, Brower, supra at 597, constituted a<br />

It<br />

seizure, Connolly, supra at 823, and where the<br />

government continuously tracked, monitored and<br />

recorded and stored the date on Aldrich's movements<br />

and activities, Raposo, supra at 739, constituted<br />

If<br />

an unreasonable search,'' Connolly, supra at 818-<br />

816, in violation of Aldrich's fundamental consti-<br />

tutional rights under the Fourth Amendment to the<br />

United States Constitution and Art. 14 of the<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Declaration of Rights. See Commonwealth<br />

V. Goodwin, 458 <strong>Mass</strong>. 11, 22 (2010)(FPS tracking is<br />

I,<br />

far greater intrusion on the defendant's liberty").<br />

38


R, Governmental GPS monitoring tracking,<br />

i<br />

and surveillance of Aldrich s movements<br />

and activities, pursuant to G.L.c. 265,<br />

5 47, violated Aldrich's fundamental<br />

constitutional rights under the 5th and<br />

14th Amendments and Art. 12 to his personal<br />

"Freedom" and "Liberty".<br />

The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the<br />

United States Constitution guarantees a fundamental<br />

right t o its citizens that no person shall be deprived<br />

of his or her "liberty" without "due process of law."<br />

Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, U.S. Gonst. (Adden-<br />

dum, p. 3 and 6).<br />

Article 12 of the <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts Constitution<br />

Declaration of Rights provide a similar fundamental<br />

state constitutional right that no citizen of the<br />

state of <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts shall be "deprived of his ...<br />

liberty," without due process of law. Art, 12 Decla-<br />

ration of Rights, <strong>Mass</strong>. Const. (Addendum, p. 7).<br />

Fundamental rights either explicitly or impli-<br />

citly arise from the United States Constitution. See<br />

LaCava v. Lucander, 58 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 527, 533 (2003).<br />

Here, Aldrich allege that the enforcement of<br />

a GPS device upon him, pursuant to G.L.c..265, 9 47,<br />

violated his fundamental rights to be free from<br />

physical restraints. See Dutil, Petitioner, 437 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

9 (2002)("freedom from governmental restraint lies<br />

at the heart of our system of government ..."); and


Aim v. Commonwealth, 414 <strong>Mass</strong>. 667, 677 (1992)<br />

(noting that "right to freedom from physical<br />

restraint has been held to be 'core' right in<br />

substantive duo process analysis").<br />

Incontestably, Aldrich has a fundamental<br />

constitutional right to his personal liberty and<br />

I,<br />

freedom from physical restraints" that was imposed<br />

upon him by the government through the use of<br />

military grade GPS technology (Title 10, C. 136,<br />

5 2281). Commonwealth v. Goodwin, 458 <strong>Mass</strong>. 11<br />

(2010)(A GPS device burdens a defendant's liberty);<br />

quoting Commonwealth V. Cory, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>. 559, 572<br />

(2009).<br />

The long ago Orwcllian fictionalization of<br />

an anti utopian futuristic totalitarian state<br />

invasion, monitoring, and continuous tracking of<br />

its citizens' movements and activities (George<br />

Orwell, Novel: 1984, (1949)), has now become<br />

a reality in sophisticated GPS technology, the all<br />

seeing eye in the sky. Town of Blackstone v. Town<br />

of Millville, 59 <strong>Mass</strong>. App. Ct. 565, 570, n. 2 (2003)<br />

(bewitchment QE the GPS gizmo). See other juris-<br />

dictional decisions in People V. Weaver, 909 N.E.<br />

1195 (N.Y, 2009); and State v. Jackson, 76 P. 3d.<br />

217 (Wash. 2003)(en banc). 9/<br />

9/ In People v. Weaver, supra at 1199, the court<br />

40


Here, in the non fiction, Aldrich not only<br />

had to endure the constant onslaught of ridicule,.<br />

humiliation, and -6stracirsm.' due to the "bewitch-<br />

ment of the GPS gizmo," Town of Blackstone, supra<br />

I1<br />

at 570, a. 2, and being mislabe.led a sex offender"<br />

II<br />

and sexual predator", but Aldrich's .personal<br />

liberty was substantially violated by the GPS<br />

statutory prohibitions which forced self imposed<br />

restaint's upon Aldrich to refrain from going to<br />

places where children frequently congregated, e.g.<br />

parks, playgrounds, amusement parks, schools,<br />

community centers, etc.,. and to disassociate himself<br />

from various religious, political, community ''and<br />

other social activities. G.L.c. 265, 8 47.<br />

Aldrich's fear of direct or indirect confron-<br />

tation with the public even through the most<br />

innocuous situations, e.g. an unintended touch,<br />

a wink, a hug, a 'kiss, closeness, a helping hand,<br />

.etc., could easily be misconstrued as sexual<br />

deviant behaivor warranting a, concerned citizen's<br />

ruled that "prolonged GPS monitoring yields ... a<br />

highly detailed profile, not simply of where we go,<br />

but by easy inference, our'associations - political,<br />

religious, amicable and amormous, to name only a few -<br />

and the pattern of our orofessional and avocatinnnl . - - - - - . - -<br />

pursuits". In State v.'Jackson, supra at 224, the<br />

court discussed GPS technology in vehicles and stated:<br />

II<br />

In this age, vehicles are used t o take people to a<br />

vast number of places that can record all of these<br />

travels, and thus can provide a detailed picture of<br />

one's life".


anonymous phone call to the police, resulting in<br />

Aldrich's precautionary arrest for public safety,<br />

presumably pursuant to G.L.c. 265, 847, even if<br />

in error. 10/ Cory, supra at n. 18 ("To the extent<br />

that the ankle bracelet portion of the GPS device<br />

is potentially visible to the public, it may have<br />

the additional punitive effect of exposing the<br />

offender to persecution or ostracism, or at least<br />

placing the offender in fear of such consequences");<br />

Cf. Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 115 (2003)(affirma-<br />

tive restraint established by "profound humiliation<br />

and community-wide ostracism" of sex offender<br />

registry).<br />

Therefore, where Aldrich was - not a convicted<br />

sex of€ender, and he was simply awaiting trial for<br />

property related offenses (R.A. "I"), the government's<br />

intentionally applied act of attaching a GPS device<br />

to Aldrich, pursuant to G.L.c. 265, § 47, placed a<br />

substantial burden on Aldrich's liberty in violation<br />

of his fundamental constitutional rights, for which<br />

he is entitled to relief. Commonwealth v. Cory, 454<br />

<strong>Mass</strong>. 559 (2009)("Due to the substantial burden on<br />

liberty 3 47 ... was punitive in effect").<br />

io/ Note, Who Are the People in your Neighborhood7<br />

Due Process, Public Protection, And Sex Offender<br />

Notification Laws, 74 N,Y,U.L. Rev. 1451, 1467-


3. WUERE DEFENDANT WAS ALLOWED <strong>TO</strong> PROCEED PROSE<br />

THROUGHOUT ALL PROCEEDINGS, IT WAS A DIRECT<br />

VIOJATION OF HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT FOR<br />

THE GOVERNMENT AND/OR ITS AGENTS <strong>TO</strong> USE GPS<br />

DEVICE <strong>TO</strong> MONI<strong>TO</strong>R, TRACK AND CONDUCT SUR-<br />

VEILLANCE OF PRO SE DEFENDANT WHILE HE PRE-<br />

PARED HIS DEFENSE FOR TRIAL<br />

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Consti-<br />

tution guarantees the rights o f the accused "to be<br />

informed of the nature and cause of the accusation;<br />

to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to<br />

have compulsory process far obtaining witnesses in<br />

his favor, .,.I1* 6th Amendment, U.S. Const. (Adden-<br />

dum, p. 4).<br />

Here, Aldrich elected to proceed Pro Se, and he<br />

alhud<br />

was to do so after the court administered a<br />

colloquy (B.A. "3", no. 7). At that point, Aldrich was<br />

personally enarmed with the full panoply of rights<br />

afforded to an accused under the Sixth Amendment.<br />

Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975). Also see<br />

Commonwealth v. Jackson, 419 <strong>Mass</strong>. 718 (1995); and<br />

Cornmonwea1th.v. Martin, 425 <strong>Mass</strong>. 718 (1997).<br />

1469 (1990)(describing acts of violence against re-<br />

gistered sex offenders), Megan A. Janick, Note: Better<br />

Seen than Herded: Residency Restrictions and Global<br />

Positioning System Tracking Law for Sex Offenders, 16<br />

B.U. Pub. Int. J.L. 258 (2007); Susan J. Walsh and Ivan<br />

J. Dominguez, Privacy and Technology: Law Enforcement's<br />

Secret Uses of GPS Devices, Champion 26 (May 2009);<br />

Reepal 5. Dalal, Note: Chipping Away at the Constitu-<br />

tion: the Increasing Use of HFID Chips Could Lead t o<br />

Erosion of Privacy Rights, 86 B.U.L. Rev. 485 (2006).


A. ’ Denial of Access to Witncsses<br />

Behind the smoke and mirrors, the facts of<br />

this case (p. 5-24) clearly show that the govern-<br />

ment’s real purpose in attaching a GPS device to<br />

Aldrich was - not done for public safety pursuant<br />

to C.L.C. 265, 5 47, but moreso as an electronic<br />

tether to monitor Aldrich’s movements and activities<br />

so as to systematically exclude Aldrich from access<br />

to the government‘s witnesses (R.A. “44-46“), which<br />

in effect, cordon off the witnesses from the defense<br />

and denied Aldrich a fair trial in violation of his<br />

Sixth Amendment right. Chapman v. California, 386<br />

U.S. 18 (1967)(presumpton of prejudice); Faretta v.<br />

California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975)(fundamental to the<br />

Sixth Amendment is the “calling and interrogation<br />

of favorable witnesses.”); and United States v.<br />

Bailey, 834 F.2d. 218 (1st cir 1987)(denial of access<br />

to witnesses within government control implicates<br />

constitutionally protected rights. Thus relief must<br />

be granted unless it can be said that the error was<br />

harmless beyond a reasonable doubt).<br />

Here, Aldrich was substantially prejudiced and<br />

unable t o prepare a defense for unknown witnesses<br />

where the government withheld the names and addresses<br />

of its witnesses for neary - two years until the day<br />

44


of trial (R.A. "49-50"), in violation of <strong>Mass</strong>.R.<br />

Crim.P. 14(a)(l)(iv), la/ which resulted in a<br />

"trial by ambush,' i n violation of Aldrich's<br />

constitutional rights under both the Sixth Amend-<br />

ment and Art. 12. Commonwealth V. Taylor, 455 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

372 (2009); Commonwealth v. Balliro , 349 <strong>Mass</strong>. 505,<br />

516 (1965)(Witnesses belong neither to the Common-<br />

wealth nor to the defence. They are not partisans<br />

and should be available to both parties in the<br />

preparation of their cases); Commonwealth v. Durham,<br />

446 <strong>Mass</strong>. 212, 218-219 (2005)(withholding the name<br />

of a "witness who is certain to be called to testify<br />

would undermine the discovery rules and allow attorneys<br />

to return to trial by ambush'?; and Commonwealth v.<br />

Adkinson, 442 <strong>Mass</strong>. 410, 416 (2004). Thus, where<br />

Aldrich's fundamental constitutional rights were<br />

violated (a presumption of prejudice) relief must<br />

be granted. United States V. Bailey, 834 F.2d. 218<br />

(1st cir. 1987); Cornonwealth v. St. Pierre, 377<strong>Mass</strong>650<br />

(1979).<br />

B. Denial of Access to Witnesses Ry<br />

Written Consent Requirement<br />

It was an "abqse of discretion", "plain e,rror",<br />

. .<br />

I<br />

ll/ Mas6.R.Crirn.P. 14(a)(l)(iv): "The names, : ' .<br />

addreses, .and dates of birth of ,the Common-<br />

wealth's witnesses other than law enforCement<br />

witnesses." See and compare Commonwealth v.<br />

Rollins, 441 <strong>Mass</strong>. 114 (2004](continuance to<br />

secure witnesses); and Commonwealth V. Bohanon,<br />

385 <strong>Mass</strong>. 733 (1982); Commonwealth v. Rivera,<br />

424 <strong>Mass</strong>. 266 (1996).<br />

45


and a clear violation of Aldrich's confrontation<br />

rights under the Sixth Amendment where the trial<br />

judge arbitrarily imposed a written consent re-<br />

quirement upon hldrich which required that Aldrich<br />

had to write letters to the witnesses, whichcontents<br />

had to be reviewed and approved by the government<br />

before being transmitted to the witnesses (R.A. "14",<br />

no. 171). Crawford V. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004)<br />

(Confrontation clause applied to "witnesses" against<br />

an accused); Commonwealth V. Ralliro, 349 <strong>Mass</strong>. 505<br />

(1965); Commonwealth v. Taylor, 455 <strong>Mass</strong>. 372 (2009);<br />

dommonwealth.v..Durham;~446.<strong>Mass</strong>. .212.(2005); and see<br />

Commonwealth v. Adkinson,, 442 <strong>Mass</strong>. (2004) -<br />

There is no <strong>Mass</strong>achusetts case on point which<br />

'establishes a "written consent requirement," and<br />

rightfully so because such a req'uirernent would<br />

operate as an obstacle to investigation . of witnesses,<br />

and unconstitutionally create' an unobstructed one-<br />

sided access to w'itnesses by the .government, violating<br />

fundamental due process rights guaranteed t o an accused<br />

under the Fouteenth Amendment and Art. 12: See and<br />

compare State v. MurtaEh, Alaska, No. 5-11988/12007,<br />

10/26/07)(The state high court held that "the advice<br />

and written-consent provisions unconstitutionally<br />

interfere with defend'ants' investigations ... by<br />

erecting needless practicial obstacles to investiga-<br />

tions, and by being pverbroad). (Addendum, p. 13-44).<br />

46


Thus, where the lower court incorrectly applied<br />

the sex offender GPS statute to Aldrich, despite the<br />

fact that Aldrich was - not a convicted sex offender;<br />

there were - no sexual assault victims or children<br />

involved (G.L.c. 258B, S 3(m)) 12/; I<br />

no allegations<br />

of threats or intimidation to victims and witnesses<br />

(G.L.c. 268, 5 13B); and I<br />

no allegations of privileged<br />

communications (G.L.c. 233, 55 20Y and 20K); there<br />

was a substantive violation of Aldrich's substantial<br />

constitutional rights to due process and the confron-<br />

tation clause where Aldrich was systematically denied<br />

access to witnesses by the imposition of a one-sided<br />

I,<br />

written consent requirement", which denied Aldrich<br />

his right to a fair trial. Commonwealth v. Balliro,<br />

349 <strong>Mass</strong>. 505, 517 (1965)("To say that a defendant<br />

has a right to present his defence and then deprive<br />

him of the means of effectively exercising that right<br />

would reduce the guaranty to an idle gesture"). See<br />

and compare State v. MurtaRh, Alaska, No. S-11988/<br />

12007(2007)(ruling that the written consent requirrnent<br />

to be unconstitutional). Under these circumstances,<br />

Aldrich i s entitled to relief.<br />

I,<br />

12/ G.L.c. 2588, 5 3(rn), states: For victims and<br />

witnesses, to be informed of the right to submit to<br />

or decline an interview by defense counsel or anyone<br />

actine. on the defendant's behalf. eXCeDt when resoonding<br />

ti lawful process " See C.S. v: Bailey, 824<br />

F.2d. 218 (1st. cir. jGk?)?An uniustified denial of<br />

access to wit.nesses within 'governmental 'control implicates<br />

constitutionally protected rights).<br />

47


C. Denial of Continuance To Access, Interview,<br />

And Secure Attendance of Witnesses<br />

Where Aldrich appeared at a status hearing on<br />

12/02/09, and "received short notice of trial" for<br />

12/07/09 (R.A. "14"), and on trial date the government<br />

filed a list of 21 witnesses (R.A. "49-50"), in viola-<br />

tion of <strong>Mass</strong>.H.Crim.P. 14(a)(l)(iv), and Aldrich filed<br />

a Motion To Continue Trial Date(R.A. "48") to interview<br />

and secure attendance of witnesses; the trial judge<br />

arbitrarily abused his discretion in denying Aldrich<br />

a continuance. Commonwealth v. Super, 431 <strong>Mass</strong>. 492,<br />

I,<br />

497 (2000)(continuance warranted when parties received<br />

short notice of trial date"). Aldrich was prejudiced by<br />

the late disclosure of the names of witnesses on theday<br />

of trial, which deprived Aldrich of an equal opportunity<br />

to interview witncsses.Thus, Aldrich was denied a fair<br />

trial. Commonwealth v. Gonzalez, 76 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct. 1111<br />

(2010)(remand for new trial for abuse of discretion in<br />

denying continuance); and Commonwealth v. Eneh, 76 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

App, Ct. 672, 677 (2010)(discovery is t o prevent "trial<br />

by ambush").<br />

D. Threats and Intimidation By Police Officer<br />

A Day Before Trial Violated Defendant's<br />

Substantive Constitutional Rights ToFair Trial<br />

Where, through telephone threats, a police officer<br />

threatened Aldrich a day before trial with the purpose<br />

of interferring and influencing trial proceedings (R.A.<br />

48


"52-62"), and out of fear and intimidation Aldrich<br />

changed his defense strategy, and decided to - not<br />

testify on his own behlaf; the-police misconduct<br />

violated Aldrich's substantive constitutional rights<br />

to a full and fair trial. Aldrich relies on the hold-<br />

ing authorities and declsions cited in Comonwealth v.<br />

Teixeira, 76 <strong>Mass</strong>.App.Ct.Ct. 101, rev. den. 456 <strong>Mass</strong>.<br />

1102 (2010) 13/. Aldrich should be granted relief.<br />

E. Abuse of Discretion In Revocation of Bail.<br />

During Trial Without Prior Notice OK HearinE<br />

Here, the trial judge abused his discretion by<br />

arbitrarily revoking Aldrich's bail and release on<br />

the GPS device during trial, without providing Aldrich<br />

with a prior notice or a revocation hearing as, required<br />

by G.L.c. 276, 5 588 and/or G.L.c. 265, 5 47, which<br />

violated Aldrich's liberty interest and his substantive<br />

and procedural due process rights t o a full and fair<br />

trial. Commonwealth v. Pagan, 445 <strong>Mass</strong>. 161 (2005)<br />

(requirments for bail revocation hearing); and Common-<br />

wealth v. Cory, 454 <strong>Mass</strong>. 559 (2009)(requirements for<br />

revocation of,G.L.c. 265, 5 47).<br />

1$/ The Appellate court reasoned that: "Ltlhere is<br />

simply--no excuse for a police officer approaching any<br />

witness or party in a pending criminal matter and<br />

engaging in 'deliberate and intentional' conduct that<br />

has a reasonable possibilty.df affecting' the course<br />

of trial proceedings." Teixeira, supra.at 105. See<br />

and compare Commonwealth v. Manning, 373 <strong>Mass</strong>. 438<br />

,(1977)(police misconduct).<br />

49


C O N C L U S I O N<br />

WHEREFORE: Robert Aldrich prays that the Supreme<br />

Judicial Court will grant him relief for violations of<br />

his substantive constitutional, procedural, and due<br />

process rights. Further, Aldrich prays that this<br />

Honorable Court will FIND, RULE and ORDER that:<br />

- -I<br />

1.<br />

2.<br />

3.<br />

4.<br />

5.<br />

6.<br />

7.<br />

8.<br />

The judickal court violated the Separation of Powers<br />

provision of Art. 30 when it exceeded the Leyislative<br />

scope and authority of G.L-c. 265, fs 47 by imposing<br />

A "GPS device" on a pretrial defendant who was poJ<br />

a convicted sex offender;<br />

Aldrich was - not and is ~ not a convicted sex offender<br />

as defined by G.L.c. 6, 5 IIW, and that G.L.c. 265,<br />

did not apply to ALdrich;.<br />

The imposition of the GP'S device on Aldrich pursuant<br />

to G.L.c. 265, § 47 was.unconstftutiona1;<br />

Aldrich's substantive constitutional and due process<br />

rights were violated where the government unlawfully<br />

"SEIZED" and/or "SEARCHED" him Kbrough the use of EPS<br />

monitoring, tracking, and surveillance while AYdrich<br />

was a Pro Sc defendant in violation of the 4th, 6th,<br />

and 14th hmendments and Art. 12 and 14:<br />

Aldrich's substantive constitutional rights to a<br />

fair trial were violated where the court arbitrarily<br />

and systematically denied the defense access to<br />

witneses through the prerequisite of a "written<br />

consent requirement", which'was unconstitutional;<br />

Aldrich's substantive constitutional rights to a<br />

fair trial were violated through police misconduct<br />

of threats and intimidation before trial;<br />

Aldrich is entitled to a new trial for the above<br />

reasons, and released on his original bail without<br />

the restraints of electronic monitoring as a<br />

prophylatic remedy; and<br />

And other relief deemed appropriate by this Court.<br />

February 8, 2011 liobert Aldrich<br />

MCI ~~~~ Shirlev<br />

~~~<br />

P.0. BOX 1218<br />

Shirley, MA 01464<br />

50

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!