Commonwealth v. Agosto
Commonwealth v. Agosto
Opinion of the Court
On September 12, 2016, the defendant pleaded guilty to assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation, and two counts each of breaking and entering a building during the day with the intent to commit a felony, assault and battery on a family or household member, and violation of an abuse prevention order. He was sentenced to two and one-half years in a house of correction with six months to serve, the balance suspended for two years. His conditions of probation required him to, among other things, complete a certified batterer's intervention program (CBIP).
On November 29, 2016, a notice of probation violation issued alleging that the defendant (1) failed to attend a CBIP class; (2) failed to pay probation fees; and (3) committed a new criminal offense, namely, by failing to stay away from his mother-in-law. After a hearing, the judge found the defendant violated his probation. In his disposition, the judge added that the defendant failed to stay away from his wife as an additional ground for violation that was not included in the notice of probation violation.
Revocation of probation. The defendant claims that the judge abused his discretion in finding that he violated his probation based on the three grounds contained within the notice of probation violation. "A determination whether a violation of probation has occurred lies within the discretion of the hearing judge." Commonwealth v. Bukin,
First, the defendant claims that a single missed CBIP class cannot constitute a violation of probation. We disagree. The notice of probation violation alleged that the defendant failed to attend one CBIP class on November 23, 2016. The defendant, through his attorney, stipulated to this fact during the final probation violation hearing.
Second, the defendant claims error in the judge's finding that he failed to pay required probation fees, without specification as to which payments were missed. We disagree. As indicated in the notice of probation violation and as the probation officer testified at the probation violation hearing, the defendant owed ninety dollars for a victim witness fee and arrears of $130 for probation supervision fees. The defendant had advance written notice of, and an opportunity to dispute, the specific payments at issue and presented no evidence to contest them. See Durling,
Finally, the defendant challenges the finding that the defendant committed a new crime, i.e., violating an active G. L. c. 209A order, because the judge improperly relied on hearsay evidence contained in Somerville police Officer Kim's testimony. The claim is without merit. Here, the judge indicated that he found this evidence sufficiently reliable because it was provided by a disinterested witness-Kim-and was provided in circumstances that support the veracity of the source. Compare Commonwealth v. Ortiz,
The defendant does not dispute that Kim was disinterested. See Commonwealth v. Henderson,
Stay away. In addition to the three probation violations, discussed supra, that we determine were established and justified revoking the defendant's probation, the judge also noted a fourth: the defendant's failure to stay away from his wife. Because the defendant never received notice of this alleged violation and there was no evidence introduced to support it, the judge erred in making this finding. The Commonwealth agrees.
Conclusion. So much of the order revoking probation that finds the defendant violated his probation due to failing to stay away from his wife is vacated, and in all other respects the order is affirmed. The sentence is vacated and the matter is remanded for resentencing in accordance with this memorandum and order.
So ordered.
Vacated in part and remanded; affirmed in part.
The defendant was ordered to stay away from both his mother-in-law and his wife.
At the hearing, the defendant argued and elicited testimony from the probation officer that he was at a "supervised meeting" at the Department of Children and Families. No evidence was introduced supporting this. It was within the judge's discretion to assess the credibility of and weigh the defendant's admission.
This was because the defendant missed four total classes. The judge only considered the November 23 class for purposes of the violation.
The defendant also claims that the Commonwealth was required to introduce the terms and conditions of probation in order to satisfy its burden. We disagree. The defendant cites no authority in support of his claim and, rather, asserts that the requirement "logically follows" because there must be proof of what condition the defendant violated. See Mass.R.A.P. 16(a)(4), as amended,
The defendant also appears to claim that his probation revocation was in error based on Bearden v. Georgia,
In light of this disposition, we express no opinion as to whether a different sentence should be imposed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.