Teacher Avoids Conviction in Sexual Conduct Case in Dartmouth MA
Criminal Charge:
A man charged in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Bristol County New Bedford District Court for:
- Sexual Conduct for a Fee, in violation of M.G.L. c. 272, § 53A
Case Overview:
In support of its mission to reduce the demand for commercial sex and sexual exploitation, law enforcement conducted an undercover sting operation whereby officers posed as escorts online advertising sexual services for a fee at a local hotel. A high school music teacher with more than 20 years of service responded to the ad. He entered into an agreement to pay $150 in exchange for oral sex. After receiving the hotel location and room number, the man arrived with the money in his pocket. Upon knocking on the hotel room door, police placed him under arrest and charged him in New Bedford District Court with Sexual Conduct for a Fee. Upon his release and arraignment, the man retained Massachusetts Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in his case.
Case Result: Pretrial Probation.
Although the Commonwealth required all the defendants arrested during this sting operation to plead guilty, Attorney Calcagni and his team would not assent to such a resolution for their client. Instead, they assembled and submitted a mitigation packet on the man’s behalf. This submission along with further efforts persuaded the prosecution to resolve this case with one (1) year of pretrial probation, which is essentially a prolonged dismissal that requires no admission of guilt or criminal responsibility. Conditions of this pretrial probationary term included $500 in court costs and 25 hours of community service. In one (1) year, providing the man is not charged with another offense and satisfies his conditions, this case will be dismissed and immediately eligible to be sealed from public record.