Com. v. Humberto, 466 Mass. 562, November 26, 2013.

8/13/2019 Com. v. Humberto, 466 Mass. 562, November 26, 2013.

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Judges and Attorneys

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts,Suffolk.

COMMONWEALTHv.

HUMBERTO H., a juvenile.

SJC11297.September 9, 2013.

November 26, 2013.

Background: Juvenile, who had been al-

leged to be delinquent for committing of-fense of possession of marijuana with in-tent to distribute, filed motion to dismissfor lack of probable cause. Arraignmentwas continued. Commonwealth filed peti-tion asking a single justice of the SupremeJudicial Court to vacate the order of con-tinuance. Juvenile filed a motion to dismisscomplaint for lack of probable cause, andasked that complaint be dismissed beforearraignment. The single justice denied peti-tion and declared in dictum that trial judge

was without power to decline to arraign ju-venile on the charge prior to dismissingcomplaint. The Juvenile Court, SuffolkCounty Division, Leslie E. Harris, J., ar-raigned juvenile and then dismissed com-plaint. Commonwealth filed application fordirect appellate review.

Holdings: The Supreme Judicial Court,Gants, J., held that:(1) evidence in complaint against juvenilewas insufficient to establish probable causethat juvenile intended to distributemarijuana in his possession, and(2) trial court was not required to arraign

juvenile before dismissing complaint forlack of probable cause.

Affirmed.

Spina, J., dissented, with opinion, in

whichCordy, J., joined in part.

Cordy, J., concurred in part and dissen-ted in part, with opinion.

West Headnotes

[1]Infants 211 2536

211Infants211XVJuvenile Justice

211XV(D)Preliminary Proceedings211k2534Arraignment and Pre-

liminary Examination or Hearing211k2536k. Ascertainment of

cause; proceedings.Most Cited CasesAfter a delinquency complaint issues, a

juvenile may move to dismiss the com-plaint for lack of probable cause.

[2]Criminal Law 110 752.5

110Criminal Law110XXTrial

110XX(F) Province of Court andJury in General

110k752.5k. Dismissal or non-suit.Most Cited Cases

Indictment and Information 210144.2

210Indictment and Information210IXMotion to Dismiss

210k144.2k. Hearing and determin-ation.Most Cited Cases

Just as a motion to dismiss an indict-ment for lack of probable cause is decidedbased on the grand jury minutes, a motionto dismiss a complaint is decided from thefour corners of the complaint application,without evidentiary hearing; the judicial

Page 1--- N.E.2d ----, 466 Mass. 562, 2013 WL 6153232 (Mass.)(Cite as: 2013 WL 6153232 (Mass.))

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determination is essentially the same forboth types of motions.


110Criminal Law110XXTrial

110XX(F) Province of Court andJury in General

110k752.5k. Dismissal or non-suit.Most Cited Cases

In reviewing a motion to dismiss acomplaint, the judge must decide whetherthe complaint application contains suffi-cient evidence to establish the identity ofthe accused and probable cause to arresthim.

[4]Criminal Law 110 211(3)

110Criminal Law110XIIPretrial Proceedings

110k208Preliminary Complaint orAffidavit

110k211 Requisites and Suffi-ciency

110k211(3)k. Information andbelief.Most Cited Cases

To establish probable cause, the com-plaint application must set forth reasonablytrustworthy information sufficient to war-rant a reasonable or prudent person in be-lieving that the defendant has committedthe offense.



110k208Preliminary Complaint or

Affidavit110k211 Requisites and Suffi-

ciency110k211(3)k. Information and

belief.Most Cited CasesProbable cause to support the issuance

of a criminal complaint is considerably lessthan proof beyond a reasonable doubt, soevidence that is insufficient to support aguilty verdict might be more than sufficientto establish probable cause.






Probable cause to support the issuanceof a criminal complaint is more than meresuspicion.






The complaint application must includeinformation to support probable cause as toeach essential element of the offense.

[8]Criminal Law 110 1139

110Criminal Law110XXIVReview

110XXIV(L) Scope of Review inGeneral

110XXIV(L)13Review De Novo110k1139k. In general.Most

Cited CasesA motion judge's determination as to

whether probable cause exists to supportthe issuance of a criminal complaint is an


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issue of law that is reviewed de novo.

[9]Infants 211 2536




cause; proceedings.Most Cited CasesProbable cause that a juvenile intended

to distribute a controlled substance may bedemonstrated through circumstantial evid-ence, viewed in the totality of the circum-stances.






In dealing with the issue of whetherprobable cause exists to support the issu-ance of a criminal complaint, the SupremeJudicial Court deals with probabilities;these are not technical, but are the factualand practical considerations of everydaylife on which reasonable and prudent men,not legal technicians, act.

[11]Infants 211 2536




cause; proceedings.Most Cited CasesEvidence in complaint against juvenile

was insufficient to establish probable causethat juvenile intended to distributemarijuana in his possession seized fromhim at high school; no reasonable inferencecould be made from juvenile's demeanorwhen confronted by the dean in the pres-ence of the school police officer that juven-ile intended to distribute the marijuana inhis possession, in that the prospect of beingcaught with marijuana alone was more thansufficient to make juvenile, a 15-year-oldhigh school student, defensive and agitated,and fact that juvenile possessed five plasticbags of marijuana did not give rise to prob-able cause, in that there was no information

in complaint suggesting that quantity ofmarijuana found on juvenile's person waslarge enough to permit any inference of anintent to distribute. M.G.L.A. c. 94C, 32C.

[12]Controlled Substances 96H 31

96HControlled Substances96HIIOffenses

96Hk31k. Possession for sale or dis-tribution.Most Cited Cases

Possession of a substantial quantity ofmarijuana alone is sufficient to support afinding of probable cause of an intent todistribute.

[13]Infants 211 2889


211XV(J)Appeal and Review211k2886Perfection; Notice and

Effect of Appeal

211k2889k.Petition or pray-er, allowance, and certificate or affidavit.Most Cited Cases

Supreme Judicial Court would exerciseits discretion and consider on Common-wealth's appeal of trial court's dismissal ofcomplaint against juvenile alleging that he


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was delinquent for having committed of-fense of possession of marijuana with in-tent to distribute the issue of whether a ju-venile court judge may rule on a motion todismiss before arraignment of a juvenile,though juvenile had not filed a cross-ap-peal raising this issue, as issue was of sub-stantial public concern, in that a courtactivity record information (CARI) wascreated for juvenile when he was arraignedprior to dismissal of complaint, whichcould adversely affect him if only becauseprior records or lack thereof might be sig-nificant in initial decision whether tocharge juvenile with a crime, if issue was

not decided, trial judges might view issueas already decided based on dictum in oth-er appellate decisions, and, although issuewas essentially moot, it had been fully ar-gued by both parties and was very likely toarise again in similar factual circum-stances.



110XXIV(D)Rightof Review110k1023.5k. Right to review in

general.Most Cited CasesAs a general rule, an appellate court

considers only questions of law raised by aparty who has appealed; it does not addressissues argued by a non-appealing partyseeking to have the lower court's decisionrevised.


110Criminal Law110XXIVReview110XXIV(L) Scope of Review in

General110XXIV(L)11Parties Entitled to

Allege Error110k1136k. In general.Most

Cited CasesWhile the general rule states that an ap-

pellee may not secure modification of ajudgment unless she has filed a cross ap-peal, this is a rule of practice, and is not

jurisdictional.




110XXIV(L)11Parties Entitled toAllege Error

110k1136k. In general.MostCited Cases

Supreme Judicial Court has the discre-tion to consider issues raised by a partywho fails to cross-appeal and, where cir-cumstances compel it, to take appropriateaction.




110XXIV(L)11Parties Entitled toAllege Error

110k1136k. In general.MostCited Cases

General rule is that failure to take across appeal precludes a party from obtain-ing a judgment more favorable to it thanthe judgment entered below.

[18]Infants 211 2536





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5/24

cause; proceedings.Most Cited Cases

Infants 211 2865


211XV(J)Appeal and Review211k2863Decisions Reviewable

211k2865k.Nature, scope,and effect of decision in general. MostCited Cases

Where a judicial officer issues a com-plaint against a juvenile, the juvenile maynot appeal its issuance but may move todismiss the complaint.

[19]Arrest 35 70(2)

35Arrest35IIOn Criminal Charges

35k70Custody and Disposition ofPrisoner

35k70(2)k. Presentation to ma-gistrate, etc.; arraignment. Most CitedCases

Although an initial appearance mustpromptly follow an arrest, the decisionwhether to continue an arraignment follow-ing an initial appearance and, if so, for howlong, rests in the sound discretion of the

judge. Rules Crim.Proc., Rule 7(a)(1), 47M.G.L.A.

[20]Infants 211 2536



liminary Examination or Hearing

211k2536k. Ascertainment ofcause; proceedings.Most Cited Cases

Where a juvenile files a motion to dis-miss a complaint before arraignment basedon the absence of probable cause, andwhere a judge, after reviewing the four

corners of the complaint application, con-cludes that there is a substantial likelihoodthat the motion is meritorious, a judge doesnot abuse his discretion in deciding to hearand rule on that motion before arraignmentto protect the child from the potential ad-verse consequences of a court activity re-cord information (CARI) record.

[21]Infants 211 2443


211XV(A)In General211k2443k. Role, power, and au-

thority of courts; discretion. Most CitedCases

Infants 211 2445


211XV(A)In General211k2444Nature, Form, and Pur-

pose of Proceedings211k2445k. In general.Most

Cited CasesThe juvenile justice system is primarily

rehabilitative, cognizant of the inherent dif-ferences between juvenile and adult of-fenders, and geared toward the correctionand redemption to society of delinquentchildren; therefore, the Supreme JudicialCourt recognizes the importance of giving

juvenile court judges broad discretion toprotect the best interests of children con-sistent with the interests of justice.M.G.L.A. c. 119, 53.

Controlled Substances. Probable Cause.Juvenile Court, Delinquent child. SupremeJudicial Court, Jurisdiction. Evidence, Ju-venile delinquency, Intent. Intent. Practice,Criminal, Juvenile delinquency proceed-ing, Complaint, Dismissal, Arraignment,


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Judicial discretion.COMPLAINT received and sworn to in theSuffolk County Division of the JuvenileCourt Department on January 24, 2011.A motion to dismiss was heard by Leslie E.

Harris,J.The Supreme Judicial Court granted an ap-plication for direct appellatereview.Donna

Jalbert Patalano, Assistant District Attor-ney, for the Commonwealth.

Emily A. Cardy, Committee for PublicCounsel Services, for the juvenile.

Robert E. McDonnell, Deana K.ElMallawany, & Nathaniel P. Bruhn, forAmerican Civil Liberties Union of Mas-sachusetts & others, amici curiae, submit-ted a brief.

Present:Ireland, C.J., Spina, Cordy, Gants,Duffly, &Lenk, JJ.

GANTS, J.*1 A Juvenile Court judge allowed the

juvenile's motion to dismiss a delinquency

complaint charging one count of posses-sion of a class D substance (marijuana)with intent to distribute after concludingthat the complaint was not supported byprobable cause that the juvenile intended todistribute the marijuana in his possession.The judge declared that, where a complaintis to be dismissed, he believed it offensiveto arraign a child ... just to put it on thechild's record, but concluded that he wasobliged to arraign the juvenile before dis-missing the complaint. The Commonwealth

appealed the dismissal of the complaint.We affirm the judge's dismissal of the de-linquency complaint, concluding that theinformation in the complaint applicationfell short of probable cause to believe thatthe juvenile intended to distribute the

marijuana in his possession. We also de-clare that a Juvenile Court judge, in his orher discretion, may allow a motion to dis-miss before the arraignment of a juvenilewhere the judge concludes that prearraign-ment dismissal is in both the best interestsof the child and the interests ofjustice.FN1,FN2

Background. We describe the facts asset forth in the police incident report filedin support of the application for the com-plaint. On January 24, 2011, a Bostonschool police officer and the dean of dis-cipline (dean) of a Boston high school were

posted at the back door of the high school'scafeteria, monitoring students who were ar-riving late to school. When the juvenile, afifteen year old student at the high school,entered the school building at approxim-ately 9:35 A.M., the dean noticed a strongodor of marijuana coming from the juven-ile. When the dean spoke to the juvenile,the juvenile became very defensive andagitated. An administrative search of the

juvenile's person was conducted in theschool nurse's office, which resulted in the

recovery of [five] plastic bags of ... whatappeared to be marijuana that was locatedinside the right pocket of a second pair ofshorts under his pants. The juvenile wasthen arrested for possession of a Class Dsubstance (marijuana) with intent to dis-tribute, in violation ofG.L. c. 94C, 32C.Later that day, a delinquency complaint is-sued.

At the initial appearance, the juvenilewas released to the custody of his mother

with special conditions of pretrial proba-tion, and counsel was appointed to repres-ent him. The judge continued the scheduledarraignment until February 23, 2011, ac-cording to the Commonwealth, in order todetermine whether the complaint was is-


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sued based on probable cause. The Com-monwealth filed a petition under G.L. c.211, 3, asking a single justice of thiscourt to vacate the order of continuance.On February 9, the juvenile filed a motionto dismiss the complaint for lack of prob-able cause, and asked that the complaint bedismissed before the arraignment. On Feb-ruary 17, the single justice denied the peti-tion, concluding that the mere continu-ance of an arraignment from one date to alater one, by itself, certainly does notpresent an occasion to grant extraordinaryrelief. The single justice, however, de-clared in dictum that the Commonwealth

is correct that, because the complaint hadissued, the judge is without power to de-cline to arraign him on the charge. CitingCommonwealth v. McCarthy, 385 Mass.160, 161, 430 N.E.2d 1195 (1982), thesingle justice added that, once arraigned,the juvenile could move to dismiss thecomplaint for lack of probable cause. Atthe subsequent hearing on the juvenile'smotion to dismiss, the judge stated his un-derstanding that judges take control of thecase after arraignment, and that if theCommonwealth chose to proceed with thearraignment, he would be required to ar-raign the juvenile. When the prosecutor de-clared her intent to go forward with the ar-raignment, the judge ordered that the ju-venile be arraigned but declared that hewould dismiss the case as soon as it's ar-raigned. After arraignment, he heard argu-ment on the motion to dismiss and allowedthe motion, finding that there was probablecause that the juvenile possessed marijuana

but not probable cause to establish that hepossessed it with intent to distribute. TheCommonwealth appealed, and we granteddirect appellate review.

*2 [1][2][3]Discussion. 1. Dismissal ofthe complaint. After a delinquency com-

plaint issues, a juvenile may move to dis-miss the complaint for lack of probablecause. See Commonwealth v. DiBenna-detto, 436 Mass. 310, 313, 764 N.E.2d 338(2002). Just as a motion to dismiss an in-dictment for lack of probable cause is de-cided based on the grand jury minutes, seeCommonwealth v. McCarthy, 385 Mass. at163, 430 N.E.2d 1195,a motion to dismissa complaint is decided from the fourcorners of the complaint application,without evidentiary hearing. FN3 Com-monwealth v. Huggins, 84 Mass.App.Ct.107, 111, 993 N.E.2d 734 (2013), quotingCommonwealth v. Bell, 83 Mass.App.Ct.

61, 62, 981 N.E.2d 200 (2013). The judi-cial determination is essentially the samefor both types of motions. See DiBenna-detto, supra,citing McCarthy, supra.In re-viewing a motion to dismiss a complaint,the judge must decide whether the com-plaint application contains sufficient evid-ence to establish the identity of the accused... and probable cause to arrest him. Mc-Carthy, supra, quoting Connor v. Com-monwealth, 363 Mass. 572, 574, 296N.E.2d 172 (1973), and Lataille v. DistrictCourt of E. Hampden, 366 Mass. 525, 531,320 N.E.2d 877 (1974).

[4][5][6] To establish probable cause,the complaint application must set forthreasonably trustworthy information suffi-cient to warrant a reasonable or prudentperson in believing that the defendant hascommitted the offense. Commonwealth v.

Roman, 414 Mass. 642, 643, 609 N.E.2d1217 (1993). See Commonwealth v. Han-right,466 Mass. 303, 311312, 994 N.E.2d363 (2013), quoting Commonwealth v.Stevens, 362 Mass. 24, 26, 283 N.E.2d 673(1972). Probable cause is considerably lessthan proof beyond a reasonable doubt, soevidence that is insufficient to support aguilty verdict might be more than sufficient


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to establish probable cause. Roman, supraat 647, 609 N.E.2d 1217. See Common-wealth v. O'Dell, 392 Mass. 445, 451, 466N.E.2d 828 (1984), quoting K.B. Smith,Criminal Practice and Procedure 104(1983) (Probable cause does not requirethe same type of specific evidence of eachelement of the offense as would be neededto support a conviction). But probablecause is more than mere suspicion. Ro-man, supra at 643, 609 N.E.2d 1217,quot-ing Commonwealth v. Hason, 387 Mass.169, 174, 439 N.E.2d 251 (1982).

*3 [7][8] The complaint application

must include information to support prob-able cause as to each essential element ofthe offense. See Commonwealth v. Han-right, 466 Mass. at 312, 994 N.E.2d 363,citing Commonwealth v. Moran, 453 Mass.880, 884, 906 N.E.2d 343 (2009). Here,there is no dispute that the information inthe complaint application is more than suf-ficient to establish probable cause that the

juvenile possessed marijuana; the issue iswhether it is sufficient to establish prob-able cause that the juvenile intended to dis-

tribute the marijuana in his possession. Be-cause it is a question of law, we reviewthe motion judge's probable cause determ-ination de novo. Commonwealth v. Long,454 Mass. 542, 555, 911 N.E.2d 174(2009).

[9][10] Probable cause that a juvenileintended to distribute a controlled sub-stance may be demonstrated through cir-cumstantial evidence, Commonwealth v.

Martin, 48 Mass.App.Ct. 391, 392393,

721 N.E.2d 395 (1999), viewed in the to-tality of the circumstances. See Common-wealth v. Hernandez, 448 Mass. 711, 715,863 N.E.2d 930 (2007). In dealing withprobable cause ... we deal with probabilit-ies. These are not technical; they are the

factual and practical considerations ofeveryday life on which reasonable andprudent men, not legal technicians, act.

Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160,175, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 93 L.Ed. 1879 (1949).

[11] The Commonwealth argues thatthe juvenile's possession of five plasticbags of what appeared to be marijuana, theabsence of smoking paraphernalia, and the

juvenile's defensive and agitated de-meanor when he was questioned by thedean establish probable cause of his intentto distribute. We consider each of thesefactors, recognizing that probable cause

must be determined based on the totality ofthe evidence.

No reasonable inference may be madefrom the juvenile's demeanor when con-fronted by the dean in the presence of theschool police officer that the juvenile in-tended to distribute the marijuana in hispossession. The prospect of being caughtwith marijuana alone was more than suffi-cient to make a fifteen year old high schoolstudent defensive and agitated. Even

with the enactment of St.2008, c. 387, 2,which decriminalized the simple posses-sion of one ounce or less of marijuana, a

juvenile found in possession of a smallquantity of marijuana is subject to a civilpenalty of one hundred dollars and forfeit-ure of the marijuana, and must complete adrug awareness program and communityservice.G.L. c. 94C, 32L. In addition, ifa juvenile were to fail to complete both adrug awareness program and the requiredcommunity service, the civil penalty may

be increased to $1,000, and both the juven-ile and his parents would be jointly andseverally liable to pay that amount. FN4

Perhaps more important, a juvenile foundin possession of marijuana on schoolpremises may be subject to expulsion or


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suspension from school by the principal.G.L. c. 71, 37H.

*4 The application in support of the

complaint noted that the administrativesearch of the juvenile's person revealedfive plastic bags of what appeared to bemarijuana, but made no mention of smoking paraphernalia. Because one wouldexpect a police officer to have mentionedsuch paraphernalia if it were found, we in-fer that the absence of any reference tosuch paraphernalia in the application sug-gests that none was found on the juvenile'sperson during the search. But, applying

that same inference, we conclude that thesearch also did not uncover a scale, a cellu-lar telephone or pager, or empty plasticbags, each of which would be consistentwith dealing drugs. Nor, applying that in-ference, was any cash found in his posses-sion, which suggests both that he had notsold any marijuana on his way to schooland that he was not concerned with theneed to make change if he did make a sale.The absence of drug paraphernalia may beconsistent with an intent to distribute

marijuana, see Commonwealth v. Wilson,441 Mass. 390, 401, 805 N.E.2d 968(2004), but considering the totality of whatwas notfound on his person, no reasonableinference can be made that the juvenile in-tended to distribute the marijuana in hispossession, especially where the smell ofmarijuana coming from the juvenile's per-son suggests that he had just smokedmarijuana.FN5

[12] If there is probable cause to be-

lieve that the juvenile intended to distributethe marijuana in his possession, it must restalmost entirely on the juvenile's possessionof five plastic bags of what appeared to be(and for the purpose of determining prob-able cause, we assume to be) marijuana.

Possession of a substantial quantity ofmarijuana would be sufficient alone to sup-port a finding of probable cause of an in-tent to distribute. See Commonwealth v.

Acosta, 81 Mass.App.Ct. 836, 841, 969N.E.2d 720 (2012)(amount of drugs alonemay raise an inference of intent to distrib-ute). But there is no information in thecomplaint application that suggests that thequantity of marijuana found on the juven-ile's person was large enough to permit anyinference of an intent to distribute. The ap-plication does not estimate the weight ofthe marijuana or otherwise describe theamount seized. We know from the applica-

tion only that the amount was small enoughthat it fit in one pocket of a pair of shortsthat the juvenile wore under his pants. Thevalue of the marijuana stated in the com-plaint application was $0.00, which sug-gests that the quantity was so small that ithad little to no street value. In Common-wealth v. Roman, 414 Mass. at 645,647648, 609 N.E.2d 1217, where therewas no evidence of intent to distributeapart from the amount of the drugs seized,we concluded that there was probablecause to believe that the defendant, whopossessed 25.6 grams of cocaine in a motorvehicle on a State highway, did so with theintent to distribute, but we noted that thequestion is a close one. Based on quantityalone, the question here is not close.

The Commonwealth argues that the di-vision of the marijuana into five plasticbags suggests an intent to distribute, butthe weight of any suggestion is consider-ably diminished by the assertion in the ap-plication that the marijuana had no streetvalue. In Commonwealth v. Wilson, 441Mass. at 393, 400402, 805 N.E.2d 968,we noted that the manner in which one-halfounce of marijuana was packaged was con-sistent with an intent to distribute, but in


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that case there were twenty separate pack-ages and they were described as dimebags, which reflected that the marijuana ineach had street value and had been deliber-ately separated into packages roughly equalin quantity. Moreover, in each of the casescited by the Commonwealth where an in-ference of an intent to distribute was war-ranted, at least in part, by the packaging ofthe drugs, the number of packages was fargreater than the five packages found on the

juvenile's person. See Wilson, supra at400402, 805 N.E.2d 968; Commonwealthv. Clermy, 421 Mass. 325, 327, 331, 656N.E.2d 1253 (1995) (twenty-five

individually wrapped pieces of crackcocaine); Commonwealth v. Sauer, 50Mass.App.Ct. 299, 302, 737 N.E.2d 10(2000) (The presence of one bank envel-ope with a pill identical to the other thirty-one is more than sufficient to support aninference that the defendant intended toplace the rest of the pills in the[twenty-three] remaining bank envelopesfor distribution); Commonwealth v. Mar-tin, 48 Mass.App.Ct. at 392, 721 N.E.2d395 (1999) (eighteen packages of rockcocaine packaged for sale as dime bags,at a street price of $10 per bag). See alsoCommonwealth v. Acosta,81 Mass.App.Ct.at 840, 841, 969 N.E.2d 720 (inference ofintent to distribute not warranted where de-fendant possessed 3.16 grams of cocaine infive twist bags).

*5We conclude that the evidence in theapplication for the complaint, viewed in itstotality, does not support a finding of prob-able cause that the juvenile intended to dis-tribute the marijuana in his possession. The

judge therefore did not err in dismissingthe complaint. At best, the application sup-ports mere suspicion of such an intent. Wenote that the dismissal is without prejudiceand that nothing bars the Commonwealth,

should it uncover evidence that the juvenileintended to distribute the marijuana in hispossession, from filing a new delinquencycomplaint supported by probable cause. Cf.

A Juvenile v. Commonwealth., 375 Mass.104, 107, 374 N.E.2d 1351 (1978) (wheredelinquency charge is dismissed for lack ofprobable cause at transfer hearing, there isno reason not to allow a second transferhearing when additional evidence concern-ing probable cause is available); Burke v.Commonwealth, 373 Mass. 157, 161, 365N.E.2d 811 (1977) (where no probablecause is found after probable cause hear-ing, [n]othing ... precludes a prosecutor

from seeking other probable cause hearingsbased on additional evidence).

We add an additional observation. Judi-cial vigilance is always important to pro-tect individuals from criminal and delin-quency complaints that are not supportedby probable cause. If a complaint cannotmeet the probable cause standard, itwould be a waste of judicial resourcesand, more importantly, an unnecessaryburden on the individual for the case to

move any further in the process. Report-ers' Notes to Rule 3(g)(2) (2004), Mass.Ann. Laws Court Rules, Rules of CriminalProcedure, at 1345 (LexisNexis20122013). But judicial vigilance is espe-cially important when a complaint chargesan individual with possession of marijuanawith intent to distribute where the amountof marijuana that is possessed is below theone-ounce threshold that would make itsmere possession a crime. When Massachu-setts citizens voted in favor of the 2008ballot initiative and thereby changed thepossession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a criminal to a civil of-fense, the voters intended to treat offend-ers who possess one ounce or less ofmarijuana differently from perpetrators of


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Com. v. Humberto, 466 Mass. 562, November 26, 2013.

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Transcript of Com. v. Humberto, 466 Mass. 562, November 26, 2013.