NEW BEDFORD — Felony harassment or investigative journalism?
That is a query being posed in New Bedford District Court docket.
And the reply may result in 2 1/2 years within the Bristol County Home of Correction.
Native activist, journalist videographer and failed candidate for native elective workplace Carlos Felix was arraigned in courtroom Could 7 on a cost of legal harassment.
Councilor Ryan Pereira says Felix has been following him
It is being introduced on behalf of Metropolis Councilor Ryan Pereira, who says Felix has adopted him as he is pushed residence from Metropolis Corridor after conferences a number of occasions.
Pereira claims Felix additionally despatched him a Fb message with a photograph of Pereira’s automotive in his driveway with a circle drawn across the license plate and the textual content “Ryan’s automotive” subsequent to it.
Pereira alleged Felix has additionally despatched messages, “telling me he’ll finish my profession. I am accomplished. I am completed. That is when it bought nerve-wracking and that is once I drew the road.”
Metropolis Councilor Shawn Oliver advised police he noticed Felix allegedly following Pereira after a gathering in March. He referred to as Pereira, who was nonetheless driving residence, and Pereira reported it to the police.
Felix says he is investigating Pereira’s handle
Felix says it is well-known that he is been investigating the place Pereira lives. Felix stated Pereira might have offered an incorrect handle when he ran for workplace.
A clerk-magistrate’s listening to was held April 18 to find out whether or not there was possible trigger to listen to the legal harassment cost in district courtroom.
Felix did not attend the listening to.
The Justice of the Peace dominated there was possible trigger to proceed.
Decide says potential sentence is 2 1/2 years
At Felix’s arraignment on Could 7, Decide Robert Ovoian requested him whether or not he was represented by an lawyer, needed one appointed or was representing himself.
“Proper now I am representing myself,” Felix stated.
Ovoian stated, “This offense carries a possible jail sentence of two 1/2 years within the Home of Correction. Are you certain you wish to characterize your self?”
Felix stated, “I am assured, sir. Sure.”
Ovoian stated Felix was additionally topic to being held for as much as 90 days with out bail if charged with one other offense whereas this case is pending.
A pre-trial convention was scheduled for June 6, although Felix requested the choose, “There isn’t any method we will deal with this as we speak?”
Ovoian stated, “No.”
Felix stated, “In due respect, your honor, have you ever checked out it (the criticism)?”
“No, I have never,” Ovoian stated.
Felix stated he has since employed an lawyer.
Felix did not attend listening to to make some extent
He did not go to the clerk-magistrate’s listening to – which may have ended the case – to make some extent, he stated.
Felix stated nothing could be on the document if the case had been dismissed.
He is uninterested in his investigations being thwarted by trumped-up prices, he stated.
Felix added, “Is it unlawful to drive down the road?”
Pereira says Felix crossed the road
Pereira stated he understands a part of an elected official’s job is to be accessible, even with somebody yelling exterior Metropolis Corridor, placing a digital camera in his face, or approaching him at an occasion.
“However there is a line that will get crossed while you’re following me residence, sending me footage of my residence whereas I am at work or elsewhere. No captions, simply footage of my residence. I am washing my automotive and I flip round and also you’re exterior, me. There is a line that is been crossed,” he stated.
Pereira added that Felix may file a criticism with the elections fee if he has a problem along with his handle.
“I simply suppose it is a handy excuse,” he stated.
Prior criticism in opposition to Felix dropped in February
Felix has had previous run-ins at Metropolis Corridor. Just lately, he was accused of trespassing by city councilors stemming from an incident final November at Metropolis Corridor.
A clerk-magistrate declined to proceed with that case following a listening to in February.
The clerk-magistrate additionally declined to proceed with a cross criticism from Felix that metropolis officers had filed a false police report in opposition to him.
