‘Stay out of Boston,’ judge tells anti-Straight Pride protesters

Sean Philip Cotter, Stefan Geller 4 days ago

Three of the 36 anti-Straight Pride Parade protesters being arraigned Tuesday were ordered to “stay out of Boston” by a judge who said he wouldn’t even allow one of them to visit relatives in Jamaica Plain.

© Provided by MediaNews Group d/b/a Digital First Media Boston, MA - 9/3/19 From left, Timothy Rego, Benjamin Boyd and Kenneth Kraft Jr. appear before Judge Thomas Horgan (cq). People arrested at Saturday's straight-pride parade are arraigned in Boston Municipal Court. POOL Photo by Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

All three were accused of assault and battery on police at Saturday’s downtown parade, with two of them also arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on disorderly and resisting arrest charges. Others also arraigned Tuesday were told to stay out of downtown.

Judge Thomas Horgan said the three risked being put in jail for 90 days if they didn’t follow his instructions. “Stay out of Boston,” Horgan repeated when the attorney for one of the men asked that his client only be forbidden from downtown Boston so he could visit relatives in Jamaica Plain.

“They’re going to have to go visit him, then,” Horgan said.

The three are only allowed to return to the city for court dates and lawyers’ appointments, the judge added.

Benjamin Boyd, Kenneth Kraft Jr. and Timothy “Sage” Rego were each arraigned on charges including assault and battery on a cop. All pleaded not guilty to shoving cops at the parade. Kraft is from Bethlehem, Pa. The other two are from Providence. None wanted to talk to the Herald afterward. All three are due back in court Nov. 15.

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Judge Richard Sinnott, in a different courtroom, denied requests from prosecutors to dismiss the cases against seven protesters, a decision police hailed.

“We’re very happy with the judge’s decision,” said Larry Calderone, vice president of the Boston Police’s Patrolmen Association.

Over a dozen people were set to be arraigned today, with only 10 going before a judge before the court took a break from session for lunch.

Seven of those individuals were charged with minor offenses — mainly disorderly conduct — but Sinnott denied the the requests of the prosecutors to dismiss the cases on the condition they complete community service.

Sinnott did not state the reason for his decisions in court.

All seven were told to avoid downtown Boston, except for Rubie Fulford, who said she needs to attend medical appointments in Chinatown for a concussion she sustained at the event.

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Poster Comment:

You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger....