Current Court Report - April 22, 2025

This week's Current Court Report includes arraignments and dispositions from Tuesday's Nantucket District Court session.

Vincent Carl Benoit, 20, of Nantucket, will have Jan. 4th charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, and four counts of leaving the scene of property damage continued without a finding for one year on the condition he forfeit his license for 210 days, partake in alcohol support meetings, wear a remote alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet (SCRAM unit), not operate any motor vehicles, complete a driver alcohol education program, other conditions. All fees were waived.

According to the police report, an NPD officer was traveling down Sparks Avenue when he observed a Gray Ford Explorer traveling the opposite direction with significant damage to the front and back of it. Police stopped the vehicle and identified the operator to be Benoit, who told police he did not have a license. Police later learned his license was suspended and Benoit said the vehicle did not belong to him. When asked if it was stolen, he allegedly told police “technically yes.”

Benoit was placed under arrest and police were able to observe signs he was intoxicated. He failed all five field sobriety tests in the opinion of the police officer on scene and consented to a breath test. He allegedly blew a .191% on both.

The owner of the vehicle, who was not identified in the report, told police he did not consent to Benoit using the Ford Explorer. Police were able to locate one of the crash sites that damaged the vehicle, which was 115 Orange Street. They said video surveillance footage showed Benoit backing up at a high rate of speed into the storage building at Cumberland Farms – causing heavy damage to the building and car.

After being continued without a finding for six months, Samantha M. Brownell, 35, of Nantucket had a July 28th, 2023 charge of leaving the scene of property damage dismissed.

After completing three months of pretrial probation, Mark M. Cunningham, 55, of Nantucket had Feb. 24th, 2024 charges of leaving the scene of property damage and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle dismissed.

After being continued without a finding for five months, Galisa M. Francis, 36, of Nantucket had Aug. 4th, 2024 charges of leaving the scene of property damage and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license dismissed.

Fabio Amaral Paiva, 40, of Nantucket was arraigned on a June 19th, 2024 charge of assault. He had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court June 6th for a pretrial hearing.

Lixi Rashel Cazun Pinzon, 21, of Nantucket was arraigned on an April 20th charge of assault and battery on a family/household member. She had a not-guilty plea entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court June 6th for a pretrial hearing.

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