Current Court Report - June 11, 2024

This week’s Current Court Report includes arraignments and dispositions from Monday’s Nantucket District Court session. It is led by a man ordered to be held in jail on dangerousness, an island resident charged for his involvement in a Memorial Day Weekend rollover accident, and an island resident nearly striking a Massachusetts State Police cruiser while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Andrew Lee Ballard, 43, of Cape Cod, was arraigned on three June 9 charges of assault & battery on a family/household member. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and returned to court on Tuesday for a scheduled detention hearing where Judge James Sullivan ordered Ballard be held on dangerousness after in the Barnstable House of Corrections. He was ordered to return to court Aug. 12 for a pretrial hearing.

According to the police report, Ballard punched and “beat” the alleged victim at least three times with a closed fist after getting into an argument with the individual – causing the alleged victim to develop a lump above their right eye bone, a swollen left eye with scratches above and below the eyelid, scratch on their chin, swollen lips, and a bloody, scratched up chest.

Upon police officers arrival to the residence where Ballard was staying, they observed Ballard to have bloody knuckles on his right hand. Ballard also has two open cases from a May 9 incident our of Barnstable District Court, which resulted in his bail being revoked on those matters.

Jason G. Mleczko, 44, of Nantucket, was arraigned on May 25 charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court July 10 for a pretrial hearing.

According to the police report, Mleczko was the operator of the F-350 involved in the rollover accident during Memorial Day Weekend on May 25 where the F-350 struck a red Jeep Wrangler on Madaket Road and caused the Jeep to rollover near the intersection with Warren's Landing. Two people were transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Cecilia Traynham, 41, of Nantucket, was arraigned on June 5 charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possessing a Class B drug, and failing to stop/yield. She had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court July 9 for a pretrial hearing.

According to the police report, a Massachusetts State Police trooper was on Surfside Road up to where it ends and turns onto Atlantic Avenue at approximately 1:20 a.m. when the trooper observed a vehicle failing to stop at the end of Atlantic Avenue, travel straight through the intersection, and almost strike the trooper’s cruiser.

As the vehicle continued onto Surfside Road, it was stopped by police in the area of Anna Drive and the operator was identified as Traynham. Traynham was observed to have glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. She failed three field sobriety tests and refused to take a breath test. As Traynham’s property was searched by a Nantucket Police officer, two small plastic bags containing cocaine were found.

In other Nantucket District Court news, Giorgi Arshaulidze, 23, of Nantucket, was arraigned on June 5 charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and failure to wear a seat belt. She had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court July 9 for a pretrial hearing.

Leovardo Geremias Benitez Tejada, 25, of Nantucket, was arraigned on Feb. 6 charges of using a motor vehicle without authority and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court June 18 for a pretrial hearing.

Cassandra Marie Bustos, 35, of Nantucket, was arraigned on an April 30 charge of assault & battery with a dangerous weapon. She had a not-guilty plea entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court July 22 for a pretrial hearing.

Santos D. Ceballos, 62, of Nantucket, was arraigned on June 5 charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. She had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court July 10 for a pretrial hearing.

Maria De Fatima Da Silva Lima, 46, of Nantucket, was arraigned on a May 26 charge of assault & battery. She had a not-guilty plea entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 19 for a pretrial hearing.

Andrew L. Falkenstein, 57, of Nantucket, was arraigned on seven Jan. 11 charges of vandalizing property and one charge of trespassing. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 12 for a pretrial hearing.

After being continued without a finding for one year, Taylor G. Gueorguiev, 23, of Nantucket, had a May 26, 2023 charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol dismissed.

Chevonne A. Pratt, 44, of Nantucket, was arraigned on three Sept. 26, 2023 charges of identity fraud. She had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 26 for a pretrial hearing.

Elizabeth H. Reuss, 25, of Nantucket, had a Nov. 5, 2023 charge of assault & battery on a family/household member dismissed after the alleged victim in the case declined to cooperate with prosecutors.

Carson Barrett Reynolds, 22, of Nantucket, was arraigned on a May 18 charge of assault & battery on a person over 60 years old. He had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court Aug. 19 for a pretrial hearing.

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