Chelsea Police arrested an Everett man already on probation for breaking and entering and related crimes, leading to his arraignment on Feb. 12 in Chelsea District Court. Judge Benjamin Barnes set bail at $500 after the defendant was taken into custody with a backpack containing stolen merchandise.
Leland Butler, 35, faced charges of receiving stolen property over $250, trespassing, and disorderly conduct as a subsequent offense. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Henry sought $5,000 bail and requested that Barnes order a GPS monitoring device as a condition of release. Judge Benjamin Barnes, however, set bail at $500 and rejected the GPS monitoring request.
Butler is serving three years of probation stemming from a two-year state prison sentence. Suffolk prosecutors had indicted him on charges including possession of burglarious tools, breaking and entering in the night with intent to commit a felony, and three counts of destruction of property. Chelsea Police conducted those investigations as well. The Probation Department was notified of Butler’s current arrest in case they pursue a surrender hearing for probation violations.
“Car breaks dropped noticeably the last time Chelsea Police arrested this defendant,” District Attorney Dan Conley said. “We’ve already notified probation officers in an effort to have him returned to prison.”
According to prosecutors, Christopher Henry described how Chelsea Police officers observed Butler at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 12 standing outside a Bellingham Square market with a box labeled as containing a computer printer. Recognizing Butler from previous arrests for breaking and entering, officers approached to question him.
Upon seeing the officers, Butler dropped the box and fled on foot, jumping a fence and running through traffic during the chase, prosecutors reported.
Officers arrested Butler for trespassing through a private yard during the pursuit. A search of his backpack revealed glass from a broken car window, a designer handbag with a Marshall’s price tag, women’s designer sunglasses, keys attached to a woman’s change purse, a GPS device, phone chargers, various gift cards, and discount club membership cards in other people’s names, according to prosecutors.
Butler also carried men’s cologne and women’s perfume in his pockets.
David Andrew Leon represents Butler. He is scheduled to return to court on March