A Hopkinton man charged with attempted murder and other assault charges will have to wait another 60 days for his case to move forward as the commonwealth prepares for a grand jury hearing.
Steven Dana appeared in Framingham District Court on Monday for a probable cause hearing in front of judge David Cunis. Dana was arrested last month at Sandy Beach after he engaged in a physical altercation with a Milford man, allegedly strangling him and holding him under the water before being pulled off by another individual.
An attorney for the commonwealth requested a 60-day continuance for the hearing, noting that the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office intends to schedule a grand jury hearing related to the attempted murder charge.
“The plan is to present to a grand jury soon,” the attorney explained. She added that a notice of discovery in the case recently was filed.
Dana’s defense attorney, David Grimaldi, indicated he was fine with the continuance but raised concerns about how soon the grand jury hearing would be scheduled.
Cunis asked the state’s attorney to clarify whether a date actually had been set for the hearing. She stated that it was forthcoming.
“Sixty days is more than enough time,” Cunis concluded, agreeing to the continuance. He warned that the court would seek to move the case forward if a grand jury indictment was not received by the next hearing date.
The grand jury will determine whether the attempted murder charge can and will be applied in this case. The charge stems from Dana’s altercation with 21-year-old Matthew Duffy, when the men’s confrontation ended up in the shallow water.
Duffy claimed in news interviews that the 70-year-old shoved his head under the water and would not let him breathe. During a dangerousness hearing on June 5, Grimaldi questioned that version of events, noting the shallow depths of the water and claiming Duffy never mentioned Dana attempting to drown him.
At that hearing, the defense attorney also shared his belief that the case would not be indicted by a grand jury.
It is unclear how much time Dana could face if the grand jury returns an indictment on the attempted murder charge and he is found guilty. According to Massachusetts General Law, attempted murder is punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to 2 1/2 years.
Dana also faces 2 1/2 years for the strangulation/suffocation charge and between 2-3 years for assault and battery on a person with a disability (Duffy was using crutches due to existing injuries), along with associated fines.
Dana will appear again in Framingham District Court on Sept. 29.
I am praying for my friend Steven
You should he needs mental help.
Stephen is a wonderful person, and all the accusations are false. The video recordings were edited to manipulate public opinion and mislead the justice system. I hope justice prevails.
Why? Because he was provoked by some young coward and reacted?
“Reacted.” You mean almost murdered a disabled man. You are despicable and will rot with your friend in the Lake of Fire.
“Reacted.” You mean he almost murdered a disabled man that was 50 years younger than him. This is the reason us young men cannot wait for the boomers to fertilize the ground for us.
“Disabled”, yet barnstorming around the lake on a jet ski. Right.
You can’t assault and attempt to murder someone because you’re old. He should get 20 years in prison for the attack on that already injured young man. I hope Steven rots in jail
A zoomer doesn’t have the right to say anybody sucks.
Your generation is trash and everyone knows it…
I’m not I hope he gets incarcerated. You know unless he gets paroled or probation, it will be 95 when he gets out, so most likely he’s going to die in prison. He nearly took the life of a crippled 21 year old who’s on crutches. Give me on the property but he does not own the lake, none of the residence do. I have no sympathy for him he gets what he gets.
The young person wasn’t a coward at all. Stephen was the coward, plain and simple. We can all see it in the video. I hope he rots in prison
Because he’s an old fart that couldn’t control his temper and thinks he controls that lake? I don’t give a crap what the kid said, he overreacted and needs to learn self control.
He nearly killed a disabled person and severely traumatized him, and you defend this scumbag. I cannot wait for them to put him under the jail.
He nearly killed a disabled 21 year old as a 70 year old man, traumatizing him in the process. When I think of the embodiment of a demon, Steven is a pinnacle example. Your friend will not see the light of day as long as he keeps living.
Funny how a disabled “man” was able to use a jet ski….
Also funny how a 21 year old couldn’t handle a 70 year old.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from your puss generation…
Believe it or not, disabled people can drive vehicles, you may have noticed they are offered special parking in-front of most businesses.
Funny how your last name is rock, cause you are certainly dumb as one. Don’t make this a generation vs generation, you cant assault someone period, let alone almost murder them. Your boy Steven is going away for a loooooong time my friends. A very long time. Even if he got 2.5 years, thats still life in prison haha haha
Funny how using a jetski doesn’t require the use of your legs whatsoever. The disabled kid had a broken leg and that doesnt stop him from using a jet ski..wouldnt matter what was disabled, Steven still attacked him and tried to murder him. Over what?!!!!!! Boat ramp usage is enough now for 70yr old weak old men to murder u over?! Are u insane?
Victor, you are out of your mind if you think Steven is a “wonderful person”. The accusations are not false, and the video footage was not edited or manipulated. You should be ashamed of yourself for spreading misinformation. Lock Steven up and throw away the key.
The accusations are false yet here we see the video proving otherwise. Steven will die in prison, there are consequences for stupid actions.
Prove the video was altered
He’s going to jail
You are full of crap. Your friend lost it because he thinks he can control what happens on the lake. So what if the kid got mouthy, that doesn’t give him the right to touch him, much less try to drown him. Your sense of loyalty is seriously misplaced. Like you, I hope justice prevails and he gets to spend time behind bars learning how to act like a man.
You’re clearly associated with this deranged old man who thinks he can take the law into his own hands. I hope he indicted by that grand jury and serves every second of the Max sentence. Doesn’t matter his age at the time of the crime and yes it was a crime. Anyone can drown in a few inches of water while being held down by someone and this older guy was twice his size.
Nothing about the video is false. Steven attacked a disabled kid who never even touched him. He charged at him, attacked him, and held his head under water until bystanders made him stop. NOTHING was edited and we ALL SAW exactly what he did. Anyone standing up for someone like this is just as disgusting as he is.
The problem is just as may prevail because this is disabled man’s friends had a video camera and the evidence is too damning. It could be looking at up to 25 years for assault and battery on a disabled person, strangulation and attempted murder by drowning.
Steven Dana is a POS……
Your friend Steven is a horrible person. I hope he gets locked up for the rest of his life.
Birds of a feather always embracing suburban nihilism. You boomers are such narcissistic degenerates. The Covid vax will take you all out soon enough.
Hey Kevin, both your generations are awful…
lol, Covid vax…
Hey Kevin, I’m sure your generations lack of basic common sense, respect, decency and toughness will eliminate all you idiots in short order…
If the defense attorney presents a compelling defensive, Steven may get sentences on the lower side of the sentencing guidelines. And if his attorney is good, he may ask for a plea deal, or ask or to have the sentences run concurrently. I think he has a major uphill battle. The whole incident was captured on video. All three of those charges are violent, felonious, and really not going to go over well with the jury.
I’m praying Steven gets prison time until he dies.
all charges should be dropped. am i right?
Steven should be dropped, head first into a shallow portion ofbthst lake. He is a public threat, and a public nuisance.
Hope he get 25 to life. His lack of control is probably an ongoing theme. Rarely do people try to drown someone during their first violent encounter. Prison is a perfect place for bullies.
Your friend Steven is a disgusting POS who beat a young kid with a broken leg who never even touched him. I PRAY he gets the max for trying to murder a kid at a boat launch for NOTHING. He WILL spend some time in jail either way and I hope he gets the treatment everyone gets when they mess with kids.
I’m not I hope he gets incarcerated. You know unless he gets paroled or probation, it will be 95 when he gets out, so most likely he’s going to die in prison. He nearly took the life of a crippled 21 year old who’s on crutches. Give me on the property but he does not own the lake, none of the residence do. I have no sympathy for him he gets what he gets.
You tried to kill a kid
Ruin his life. Make Steven suffer for the rest of his time on this Earth.
This was a stupid argument that escalated due to goading. Both parties are at fault. I don’t think for a second that this was an ACTUAL MURDER attempt. Please.
Just a stupid fight because men can be dumb apes that lose control of their emotions. Lol
Ridiculous.
Not an actual murder attempt.
Irrational men acting like toddlers.
Give it a rest. M’kay?
Sums up boomers and zoomers perfectly huh?
I’m praying Steven gets prison time until he dies.
The problem is just as may prevail because this is disabled man’s friends had a video camera and the evidence is too damning. It could be looking at up to 25 years for assault and battery on a disabled person, strangulation and attempted murder by drowning.
If convicted, unless by some stroke of luck he gets paroled or probation, he could be looking at getting out when he turns 95. So if he gets denied,he will definitely die in prison
How much you want to bet Steven is full on MAGA. “Don’t tread on me”..all the while he thinks it is ok to take things into his own hands by assaulting someone rather than calling law enforcement.
He will lose his entire net worth in legal fees and either judgments or settlements in civil case. Oh, and if you all start up a go find me, he will get that used against him in criminal court.
The guy might be a good guy but that day he made a horrible decision. Yes the kid was running his mouth but you can’t go around assaulting then pushing and allegedly trying to drown the kid until someone had to intervene. He could have walked away and called the cops like he kept saying he was going to do. People learn from mistakes, as will he.
Dana may have been a good guy, but once you put your hands on a crippled person, and nearly kill him, you just threw your life away. The smartmouth 21-year-old wasn’t the one that f***** up, Steven Dana did when he tried to drown him. September 29th, if convicted he could be looking at up to 25 years in Federal prison which means he’ll be 95 when he gets out that is if he’s still alive