Quincy, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorneys

Sullivan and Sweeney, LLP

277 Newport Avenue
Quincy, Massachusetts 02170
USA

(617) 328-6900 or (866) 746-2412

(617) 328-6655

www.sullivanandsweeney.com

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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

Sullivan and Sweeney, LLP is a Quincy criminal defense law firm provides aggressive representation for clients facing criminal charges in Massachusetts. The firm was founded in 1990 upon the bedrock of aggressive, competent, and efficient representation for all clients. Since our founding, the firm's attorneys have developed a well-known reputation for high quality client service and aggressive representation exemplified by our firm’s Martindale-Hubble top 5% listing as a preeminent law firm.

We are committed to helping you, our clients and fellow attorneys, with the highest standards of service and aim for successful resolutions with each and every matter. Our criminal lawyers located in Quincy, MA have significant legal experience in trial practice, litigation, and settlement negotiations as well as a practical knowledge of the local court system. We utilize state of the art technology and cost-effective methods to provide quality services in a timely, client-oriented manner. In addition, our firm commits to providing a friendly, professional, and discreet environment for clients to comfortably seek legal help.

The lawyers of Sullivan and Sweeney, LLP have years of experience with Quincy criminal law as defense attorneys. Attorney William F. Sullivan is former prosecutor and noted author and lecturer on Massachusetts criminal law. Attorney Richard J. Sweeney brings additional experience as a former Sergeant with the Boston Police drug unit and former instructor at police academies throughout Massachusetts on Massachusetts motor vehicle law and Massachusetts criminal law. Their defenses are informed by a multi-faceted understanding of law enforcement and criminal defense.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas Description

- Criminal Law

The firm is comprised of experienced criminal lawyers located in Quincy, MA and a dedicated support staff. Our combined skill set and knowledge base allows us to offer a wide range of legal services in several areas of criminal law: homicides, white-collar crime, drunk driving, motor vehicle homicides, sex offenses, drug and alcohol possession, trafficking, distribution, and other drug cases, probation matters, juvenile cases, driver's license suspensions and revocations, registry of motor vehicle hearings, speeding and traffic tickets, sex offender registration classification and hearings, professional discipline, probation matters, Internet, and restraining orders. Clients trust our guidance to help them make well planned and informed decisions to reach the best possible result.

- Criminal Defense

The number one proactive action that those accused of crime can do to protect their rights is retain legal counsel as soon as possible. A lawyer will help you confront your charges and begin building a solid defense. Acting quickly will assure that your Quincy criminal defense firm obtains valuable time-of-incident facts and properly commences the legal process: establishing timelines & alibis; interviewing & securing witnesses; preserving valuable evidence; and meeting all court deadlines. Sullivan and Sweeney, LLP make their legal services available 24 hours a day so that we can immediately begin defending our clients. We get to work straight away and begin isolating pertinent facts and recording witness statements that are vital in combating the charges against you.

- Drunk Driving (DUI or OUI)

In 2005 Massachusetts adopted some of the toughest drunk driving, or Operating Under the Influence (OUI), laws in the country. These laws have lifetime implications and demand the best attorneys who have the knowledge and experience to deal with them. No one should attempt to handle their own case; as even cases where a guilty does not enter has serious implications involving past and future conduct. You can lose your license and your freedom by not understanding the law. Know your rights! You have the right to refuse field sobriety tests, the right to remain silent and refuse to answer any questions other than your name and address at booking, the right to refuse a breathalyzer and the right to contact an attorney. Use these rights and consider the chart below to help you understand the implications of a drunk driving arrest. Finally choose to deal with a firm that has the knowledge of local courts and Massachusetts laws as well as the experience to deal with any and all charges against you.

- Sex Offender Registry Board / Megan’s Law

Offenses requiring registration with the board include, but may not be limited to: Indecent assault and battery on a child under 14; indecent assault and battery on a mentally retarded person; indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or over; rape; rape of a child under 16 with force; rape and abuse of a child; assault with intent to commit rape; assault of a child with intent to commit rape; kidnapping of a child; enticing away a person for prostitution or sexual intercourse; drugging persons for sexual intercourse; inducing a minor into prostitution; living off or sharing earnings of a minor prostitute; second and subsequent adjudication or conviction for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior; incestuous marriage or intercourse; disseminating to a minor matter harmful to a minor; posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity; dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct; possession of child pornography; unnatural and lascivious acts with a child under 16; aggravated rape; any attempt to commit any of the aforementioned violations.

- Domestic Violence

Abuse is loosely defined as placing another person in fear of imminent serious physical harm or attempting to or causing physical harm to another. Threats are usually considered to be enough to issue a restraining order. Under Massachusetts law a person suffering from abuse may file a complaint in the court, or if court is closed then you can file a complaint with any police department, requesting protection from such abuse. The protection comes in the form of a “209A Order” of what’s known as a protective order against a person who is abusing you and fits within the guidelines as outlined below. Once a court issues an order the police are required to serve the order and render you as much assistance as necessary to ensure your safety. The order will allow for a ten day period if issued by the court, or the next court day if issued by the police, to allow for the defendant against whom the order was issued to appear before the court and show why the order should be vacated or not extended. Both parties are entitled to an attorney and the “victim” is entitled to the assistance of a victim-witness advocate to assist him or her in the proceedings. The issuance of an order is a “civil” matter but the violation of the order is a criminal matter.

- Student Offenses

As parents of high school and college students, both in state and out, William F. Sullivan and Richard J. Sweeney are acutely aware that you may not know the laws of Massachusetts, and more importantly, what to do if you, or your son or daughter, should find yourself in trouble in Massachusetts. There is nothing more terrifying than being in another state and not knowing who to turn to. We work closely with schools and colleges, as well as local police departments and courts, to ensure that students avail themselves of the many first offender opportunities available to PREVENT YOU OR YOUR CHILD FROM “GETTING A RECORD.” An experienced attorney can guide you through the court system and assist you in getting a hearing before a clerk magistrate or enrolling you in pre-trial and pre-arraignment programs designed to give young first time offenders the ability to correct their behavior without getting a criminal record.

- Motor Vehicle Laws / Ticket Appeals / Driver's License Suspensions and Revocations

Massachusetts has enhanced the penalties for speeding and for Junior operators receiving any motor vehicle citation. YOUR CHILD NOW FACES A LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR A SPEEDING TICKET. Every parent and junior operator should be aware of the license loss they face under the state’s drunk driving laws and also for other moving violations including speeding and operating with other passengers in the motor vehicle. EVERY operator has a right to appeal any citation they receive and they should appeal and hire a lawyer familiar with these appeals. When your license has been suspended or revoked by the registry of motor vehicles you must apply for a hearing to have it reinstated. A court order in some instances is NOT binding upon the registry of motor vehicles. For example a Court may treat a drunk driving offense as a first offense and order the standard first offense license suspension whereas the registry may see that, in fact you have more than one drunk driving offense on your record and they WILL treat the suspension as a second or third, etc. despite the court's finding. That is why you need an experienced attorney to explain the outcome of any case.