Case Summaries
In the Holbrook case Attorney Hrones convinced the judge to give his client a suspended sentence. After a huge public outcry and criticism of the judge's decision by the Governor of Massachusetts, the sentence was revoked and the defendants sentenced to prison. Mr. Hrones obtained a stay of the sentencing order from the highest court in Massachusetts, and later from Justice Brennan of the U.S. Supreme Court. The defendants were subsequently permitted to withdraw their guilty pleas. A change of venue was granted and jurors were bussed from Springfield to Boston. After a three-week trial all defendants were acquitted of the rape charges.
In the case of Donnell Johnson, accused of killing 9 year-old Jermaine Goffigan, Mr. Hrones spent years fighting to get his client's conviction, based solely on an eyewitness' identification, overturned. Eventually, after five years as an innocent man in prison, Donnell Johnson was released as a free man. This compelling story was the subject of a BBC documentary on the American judicial system, as well as being a topic of several chapters in "Boston DA" by Shawn Flynn (TV Books, Harper) (2000).
Mr. Hrones never gave up the fight and finally prevailed in proving his client's innocence. Recently, Mr. Hrones has obtained the release of three other innocent persons who had been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned, one for as long as 22 years. He is now representing some of these innocent persons in seeking compensation for their wrongful imprisonment through federal civil right actions and state statutory remedies.
If you or someone you know anywhere in Massachusetts needs the assistance of an experienced Boston Criminal Defense and DUI Attorney, call Hrones & Garrity, LLP today at 617-227-4019, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.