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…
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
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.