Judge unable to drop felony charges in city councilor's love-triangle case
FALL RIVER — City Councilor Pam Laliberte’s attempt to get two felony obstruction and harassment charges dropped from her criminal case were dashed, for now, after a District Court judge denied her request.
Judge Sabine Coyne issued her ruling on Tuesday indicating that she does not have the authority as judge to dismiss criminal charges prior to a defendant’s arraignment.
Westport police filed charges in August and she’s been in Fall River District Court regarding the case three times, but Laliberte has not been arraigned on the charges.
Laliberte gave up her seat as council president after word spread of an investigation by Westport police that she harassed her ex-lover and his wife by cellphone by using an app that hid the caller’s number, called a “burner” app.
The felony charges against her stem from Laliberte allegedly lying to police that she wasn’t home in her New Boston Road apartment when they attempted to serve a warrant.
Burner phoneFall River city councilor seeks to have felony charges dropped in 'love triangle' case
She also is accused of calling her ex-lover, demanding he put a stop to the investigation or she would reveal their affair, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Cahill indicated in a motion hearing Dec. 2.
Overreach police investigations lovers Attorney claims police 'overreached' in harassment case against Fall River city councilor
Unclear when city councilor is to be arraigned
Laliberte’s next appearance in court is scheduled for Jan. 12, but it is unclear if she will be arraigned on the four counts during that proceeding.
Legal woesLaliberte-Lebeau hires lawyers to take her harassment case. She's due in court in October.
Her attorney, Frank Camera, has argued Westport “overreached’ in their pursuit to investigate Laliberte and the case was a “love-triangle” situation.
Camera said regarding the arraignment date, both the defense and the district attorneys’ office will have to consider the case “considering the complainants' wishes.”
In a rather unusual turn of events during Laliberte’s hearing last week, attorneys for the alleged victims showed up in court supporting the motion to dismiss the felonies and send the misdemeanor’s hearing behind doors before a clerk magistrate.
High-profile defense attorney Kevin Reddington is representing the ex-lover and Attorney Nelia DeStefano represents the wife.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Judge refuses to drop felony charges in city councilor's love-triangle case
