Court: Island Resident Facing 20 Charges, Released On Bail

This Current Court Report includes arraignments and dispositions from Wednesday’s Nantucket District Court session, which was led by an island resident who was arraigned on 20 charges, including nine charges of leaving the scene of property damage. The man who drove into a utility pole earlier this month, snapping it in half, also had his day in court and was arraigned on charges including operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs.

Jose Juarez Rodriguez, 50, of Nantucket, was arraigned on 20 June 24 charges including leaving the scene of property damage (x9), failure to stop for police (x2), failure to stop/yield (x2), reckless operation of a motor vehicle, using a motor vehicle without authority, receiving a lost/stolen credit card, driving with an uncovered/unsecured load, having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and resisting arrest.

Rodriguez is alleged to have stolen a work truck, struck a string of mailboxes on Bailey and Essex roads, and led police on a brief chase that ended at the intersection of Miacomet and Surfside roads.

Rodriguez had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 28 for a pretrial hearing.

In other Nantucket District Court news, Ryan Allen, 26, of Nantucket, was arraigned on June 3 charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding in violation of special regulations, and a marked lanes violation.

Allen was involved in the accident where a truck drove into a utility pole. According to the police report, Allen was traveling north on Surfside road going 50 miles per hour and traveled five feet after hitting the pole – striking a bench.

Allen’s pupils were observed to be pinpointed and dilated while speaking with police, unsteady on his feet, and unable to answer any questions. He also had a blank stare on his face “as if he was going in and out of consciousness.”

Allen had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 28 for a pretrial hearing.

Yago Barbosa DaSilva, 23, of Nantucket, had a Sept. 22, 2022 charge of assault and battery dismissed due to lack of prosectution.

Vincent Carl Benoit, 18, of Nantucket, will have a Jan. 7 charge of using a motor vehicle without authority continued without a finding for one year on the condition he complete the probation without a violation.

Charges of breaking and entering a vehicle in the nighttime for a felony and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle stemming from the same incident were dismissed.

William Dell’Erba, 30, of Nantucket, was arraigned on a June 26 charge of assault and battery on a family/household member. He had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 28 for a pretrial hearing.

Theresa Anne Flores, 40, of Nantucket will have a May 6 charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol continued without a finding for one year and a charge of leaving the scene of property damage continued without a finding for six months on the condition she complete a driver-alcohol education program, forfeit her license for 45 days, and pay a $250 program fee, $250 head-injury fee, $50 OUI assessment fee, and $50 victim-witness fee.

Charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation stemming from the same incident were dismissed.

Steven Alexander Mancia Munoz, 22, of Centerville, was arraigned on May 25 charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, using a motor vehicle without authority, failure to stop for police, speeding, marked lanes violation, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

According to the police report, Munoz drove past a police cruiser going 50 miles per hour while traveling down Hummock Pond Road, prompting police to follow Munoz and attempt to stop him. However, Munoz did not stop and once he reached the end of the road, did not stop for police and instead accelerated away from the scene.

Police said Munoz did not stop until a civilian noticed the chase taking place, subsequently pulling their car into the middle of the road to block the evading car from going any further. Munoz told police he did not have a license and when the owner of the vehicle was contacted, they told officers Munoz did not have permission to use his car.

Munoz had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 28 for a pretrial hearing.

Melanie A. Wernick, 62, of Nantucket, had a Aug. 15, 2022 charge of larceny over $1,200 dismissed.

*All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty under a court of law*