Dedham man attacked in entrance of courthouse after getting no jail time for serving alcohol at social gathering the place teen drowned, lawyer says

Crime

James and Leslie Coughlin pleaded responsible to supplying alcohol to minors on the 2021 commencement social gathering the place Alonzo Polk drowned.

A retired Massachusetts State Police captain was attacked exterior a Dedham courthouse Monday after he and his spouse have been sentenced on prices stemming from a 2021 commencement social gathering the place a youngster drowned.

James and Leslie Coughlin have been every given a one-year suspended sentence and neighborhood service after pleading responsible to supplying alcohol to minors. The Dedham couple additionally admitted there have been enough details for them to be discovered responsible on a cost of reckless endangerment of a kid, although the choose continued that cost and not using a discovering.

Monday’s sentencing resolved prices stemming from the dying of 17-year-old Alonzo Polk, who was pulled unresponsive from the Coughlins’ pool throughout a highschool commencement social gathering. 

Brian Kelly, the couple’s lawyer, asserted in a court docket submitting that toxicology checks confirmed Polk had no alcohol in his system on the evening of the social gathering. Kelly has additionally asserted that Polk was pushed into the pool by a pal who was unaware the teenager couldn’t swim. 

Because the Coughlins’ case moved by way of the court docket system, Polk’s household mounted requires justice within the teen’s dying, even holding a march from Polk’s residence on Mount Vernon Road to the Coughlins’ Netta Highway home. 

“I don’t care what I’ve to do, I would like justice for my son. Everyone else’s youngsters are right here, and my son is gone,” Debra Rowell — Polk’s mom — stated on the time, in line with Boston 25 Information. 

Earlier this 12 months, the Coughlins efficiently petitioned the court docket to ban shows of assist for Polk exterior the courthouse if the case proceeded to trial. They asserted that the household’s supporters had “harassed and intimidated a number of potential witnesses” within the case, with one witness allegedly punched within the face after refusing to vary his story. 

The couple additionally stated they’d confronted threats and intimidation themselves.

On Monday, Kelly advised The Boston Globe that James Coughlin was “brutally attacked from behind” as he was leaving Dedham District Court docket. The alleged assailants had reportedly been contained in the courtroom throughout the listening to.

In keeping with the Globe, Kelly described the incident as a “wild melee,” throughout which a number of folks kicked and hit Coughlin and one other retired trooper who tried to intervene.

In a press release, the Dedham Police Division confirmed {that a} bodily altercation occurred on the street close to the courthouse at 10:38 a.m. Monday. 

“A number of officers already within the space together with Court docket Personnel and others intervened to cease the altercation and restore order,” Dedham police stated. 

Two folks have been evaluated for accidents on the scene however refused to be taken to a hospital for additional analysis, in line with police. The division didn’t point out whether or not anybody was arrested, however stated an investigation is underway. 

“It’s completely loopy that one thing like this may occur in the midst of Dedham after a court docket continuing,” Kelly advised the Globe. “We hope the [district attorney]’s workplace will carry the suitable prices and never allow our legal justice system to get replaced by mob justice.”