Judge gives Lynn man second chance

LYNN – A judge released a city man who police said tried to rob and then beat a woman outside Stop & Shop in 2010 but whose lawyer said has since successfully completed multiple drug rehabilitation programs and regained control of his life. “This is a young man who, admittedly, has had a bad past,” Public Defender Mark Schmidt said in Lynn District Court Thursday. “But by his actions exerted last September he has taken control of his life. Other courts have recognized this and decided to take a chance on this young man ? I ask you to follow the lead of the other courts.”Adam Leal, 29, of 12 Oakwood Ave. #1, was arraigned on Thursday for unarmed robbery. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.A female Greater Lynn Senior Services employee told an officer on security detail at Stop & Shop at approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 28, 2010 that she had been assaulted after a man tried to steal her purse, according to a police report by Officer Timothy Ferrari. The woman told police she had been taking an elderly woman grocery shopping when she noticed a man following them.The two women walked outside the store, and the man grabbed her pocketbook and began to flee, the alleged victim told police. The alleged victim reported she chased the man to his car and grabbed the pocketbook back. The man allegedly then turned and punched her three times in the face.Several officers from local police departments who were shown surveillance photos recognized the suspect as Leal, a known heroin addict, Essex District Attorney Aimee Conway said Thursday in court. But she said the alleged victim was uncertain when identifying the suspect in a photo array.Conway said Ferrari was at Stop & Shop in June of this year when he noticed Leal walk into the store. Ferrari then identified Leal as the suspect in the 2010 incident, Conway said.She requested $25,000 cash bail. She said Leal’s record included 10 defaults and an open case in Salem. She said Leal had picked up 12 new cases with charges including multiple counts of breaking and entering and attempted murder since the alleged 2010 incident.Schmidt acknowledged his client’s record was “fairly lengthy.” But he said Leal had voluntarily checked himself into the hospital in September 2012, completed two drug rehabilitation programs since then and was appearing in area courts to clear up any outstanding cases. He said Leal had also reconnected with his mother, and that he and his girlfriend were expecting a child in two weeks. Schmidt also noted Leal was summonsed into court on a day he had a conflict with a court date in Malden, but had come in to reschedule his arraignment and appeared willingly Thursday.Judge James Wexler questioned shoplifting and larceny charges taken out on Leal in Salem this June. Schmidt said Leal “vigorously disputed” the charges which involved allegedly stealing soda from an employer.Wexler ordered a $15,000 personal surety bond and scheduled Leal to appear in court Aug. 29.Leal declined to comment outside the courtroom.