If this were one of us....

[Half Cocked]

So they are trying to protect the cop who cut them down I bet.

It does not protect the officer either way.

No charges means the defense won't have to put the now retired cop on the stand as reasonable doubt

They are still facing charges. It has no bearing on the officer.

 

[Half Cocked]

They are dropping some charges against the youths that aquired the weapons to keep them at the District Court level.

The Grand Jury was already hearing testimony, so did the DA drop the possession of the sawed off shotgun charges because they thought the Grand Jury wouldn't indict, or they were going to have the cop testify where he would claim the Fifth, or does one of these kids parents have the DA and Judge on the payroll?
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_12009757

It is not at all uncommon for charges which only carry Superior Court dispositions to be reduced so as to keep a case in District Court opposed to Superior Court.

Some cases are better suited for District Court and the charges need to be amended as such to prosecute in District Court.

 

[jdubois]

I thought a sawed-off got life?

Doesn't have to be life. It can be any term from 18 months to life.

 

[cekim]

So, was he keeping a drop-gun cache or just collecting?

They make everything sound sinister around here when you have more than one gun its an "arsenal"...