Three dogs neglected in home
Milford, MA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010
County: Worcester

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Michael K. Nugent
» Leandro Barbosa

A Milford man arrested in Marlborough on Friday is being held at the Billerica House of Correction for charges connected to a December raid that found drugs, weapons and evidence of animal cruelty in his North Bow Street apartment, police said.

Police said Michael Nugent, 18, of 47 North Bow St., was arrested on South Bolton Street, Marlborough, Friday on three warrants. His Milford roommate is also being sought on similar charges.

Detective Jay Ball said one of those warrants, from Milford, charges Nugent with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (a subsequent offense), conspiracy to violate drug laws and three counts of animal cruelty.

Nugent was arraigned Monday in Marlborough District Court on a probation violation, Ball said, with the judge holding him until a date in February.

Police and a SWAT team raided Nugent's home Dec. 15, finding two pounds of marijuana valued at $2,000, double-edged knives, pepper spray and three unattended pit bulls living in squalor, police said.

The suspects, Nugent and roommate Leandro Barbosa, 20, were not home at the time, Ball said.

He said the friends are originally from Marlborough and bounce between the towns.

"The dog feces were on the floor, there was trash all over the kitchen, and I didn't see any bowls with any water," Ball said. "There was just a bag of food left ripped open on the floor."

Police said they also found five realistic-looking guns that turned out to be airsoft pistols, various cell phones, iPods and high-end watches.

Ball said Barbosa has not been apprehended, but Nugent will return to court for a pretrial hearing early next month.

Barbosa is being charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (a subsequent offense), conspiracy to violate drug laws, three counts of animal cruelty and possession of ammunition (pepper spray) without a firearms license.

Ball said neither has been charged with counterfeiting though police are checking a tip from the Marlborough Police that the pair might be making fake $20 bills.

"Those charges are still being investigated and we're turning over some forensic evidence to the United States Secret Service," Ball said.

References

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