Current Court Report - December 10, 2024
David Creed •
This week’s Current Court Report includes arraignments and dispositions from Monday’s Nantucket District Court session. It is led by the arraignment of the man who struck island attorney Steve Cohen with his vehicle in July while Cohen was on a morning jog and a plea deal involving an island resident who was involved in a fight outside of the Dreamland Theater during Memorial Day weekend of this year.
Brendan J. Lafferty, 26, of Nantucket was arraigned on July 9th charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle without an inspection sticker. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court February 10th for a pretrial hearing.
According to the police report, Nantucket Police officers dispatched to Tom Nevers Road at approximately 6:52 a.m. on July 9th after receiving a report that a motor vehicle had struck a pedestrian.
Upon arrival, police said that the vehicle had significant damage to the passenger’s side front end and that the police observed Cohen on the ground perpendicular to the roadway approximately five yards from the white fog line on Tom Nevers Road.
Lafferty told police that he was driving down the road when he suddenly heard a thump. He exited his vehicle, saw he had struck a pedestrian, and called 911. Police said they observed “various papers and books on the dashboard directly in front of the steering wheel impeding the visibility of the operator.”
Matthew R. West, 26, of Nantucket, will have a May 26th charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle continued without a finding for six months on the condition he pay $300 in fees and complete the probation without any violations.
A charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol stemming from the same incident was dismissed after the court allowed a motion by the defense in October to suppress the breathalyzer test as evidence.
West was involved in the accident outside the Dreamland Theater that led to a fight in late May.
According to the police report, West was involved in a car accident and “a disturbance” on South Water Street outside of the Dreamland Theater in late May – prompting at least seven public safety vehicles to respond to the scene of the incident.
The Nantucket Police Department stated in the report that the investigation determined that West bumped into a motorcycle with his White Jeep at a slow rate of speed, which caused the motorcyclist to fall off and sustain minor injuries.
Sources told the Current in the aftermath of the altercation that the fight broke out after the crash and an individual allegedly punched West in the face.
In other Nantucket District Court news, Roberto Carlos Chacon, 28, of Nantucket, will have an April 17th, 2023 charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol continued without a finding for one year on the condition he forfeit his license for 45 days, complete a driver alcohol education program, and pay $600 in fees.
Charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation, possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle stemming from the same incident were dismissed.
Leonel Mancia Castro, 56, of Nantucket, was arraigned on Dec. 6th charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and leaving the scene of property damage. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court January 27th for a pretrial hearing.
Felipe De Brito, 27, of Nantucket, was arraigned on a Dec. 8th charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license (subsequent offense). He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Dec. 30th for a pretrial hearing.
Etienne Freire Pavie, 43, of Nantucket, was arraigned on Nov. 8th charges of assault & battery on a police officer and assault & battery. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court January 27thfor a pretrial hearing.
Carson Barrett Reynolds, 22, of Vinemont, Alabama, will have a May 18thcharge of assault & battery on a person over the age of 60 dismissed on the condition he complete two years of pretrial probation and complete a mental health evaluation.
*All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty under a court of law*