Brookline Court Paves Way for Young Man’s Second Chance
White-knuckled fingers crossed tightly behind his back, bouncing anxiously from one foot to the other, 23 year-old Matthew White sniffled back his emotions before Judge Mary White, awaiting her ruling on his motion to dismiss the domestic assault and battery charges brought against him just over a year ago.
When the slight, trembling White had previously shuffled to the front of the Brookline Municipal Courthouse with his attorney Lisa Freije, he appeared to be the most distressed person in the room.
“I know you’re nervous, but just answer the questions as best as you can,” Freije could be heard whispering to him.
As it turns out, however, White had a lot to be nervous about.
A recovering heroin addict, the Revere resident is also suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is in the process of being tested for Bipolar Disorder, revealed Freije.
In addition to the 20-day program and the subsequent after-program he had completed for his drug addiction, White confirmed under testimony that he is undergoing treatment for his multiple mental illnesses.
His girlfriend, according to Freije, had ended their relationship the night before, and to make matters worse, he was heavily reprimanded for smiling nervously at the probation desk while awaiting the judge’s decision.
“You don’t want to hang a batterer’s program around his neck,” argued Freije, the second lawyer on his case, citing the current instability of White’s life.
Neither did Alyona Ueda, the victim of the case, and her mother, both present to stand in solidarity with White.
According to a police report, on Oct. 4, 2014, Ueda and White were heard arguing before White grabbed his then-girlfriend and threw her to the pavement of Addington Road.
Brian Menna, a witness, interceded, telling White to get away, and reported the event to the police, but both Ueda and White repeatedly expressed to Menna and the authorities that the event was a misunderstanding.
But prosecutor Jessica Brockaw noted that this wasn’t the first incident of this nature that White had been accused of.
In May of 2014, White had charges of violently threatening Ueda dismissed. Brockaw called this and other incidents a pattern of White’s “history of disorderly conduct.”
Still, Freije continued to paint him as a reforming young man gone astray, now receiving regular therapy with two psychiatrists and living with his mother.
Judge White asked the defendant a series of questions regarding the facts of the case. White’s strained voice answered “yes” to all.
He had waived the right to both a jury and bench trial. He had confirmed his actions under sworn testimony. He was guilty, but he was improving, contended Freije.
Judge White agreed, ruling that the defendant receive two years of probation, community service, mandatory treatment, no batterers program, and a clear record.