Case Name: Commonwealth vs. Garrett Gallo (and three companion cases)
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1971-04-20
Citations: 359 Mass. 338
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth vs. Garrett Gallo (and three companion cases ).
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 359
Pages: 338–339

Head Matter:
Commonwealth vs. Garrett Gallo (and three companion cases ).
Middlesex.
January 5, 1971.
April 20, 1971.
Present: Tauro, C.J., Cutter, Spiegel, Reardon, & Quirico, JJ.
Terence M. Troyer, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth, submitted a brief.
Of the companion cases one is against Garrett Gallo and two are against James H. McGaffigan.

Opinion:
Tauro, C.J.
In June of 1968 the defendants, Garrett Gallo and James H. McGafiigan, were indicted under G. L. c. 266, § 28, for receiving a stolen motor vehicle, knowing the vehicle to have been stolen. Both defendants were also indicted under G. L. c. 266, § 139, for altering the identifying number of a motor vehicle with intent to conceal the identity of that motor vehicle.
On November 1, 1968, upon the defendants' motions their cases were continued for one year without a finding-under the supervision of the probation department. Each motion was supported by an affidavit. The judge certified "that the cause relied on exists and that the interests of public justice require the allowance [of the motions]." The Commonwealth claimed an appeal. In October of 1969, the indictments ' against each defendant were dismissed by another judge and the Commonwealth appealed.
These cases are governed by our decision in Commonwealth v. Brandano, ante, 332.
The judgments are vacated and the cases are remanded for further proceedings consistent with the opinion in Commonwealth v. Brandano, ante, 332.
So ordered.
It should be noted that the two indictments under G. L. c. 266, § 139 (altering identifying numbers of a motor vehicle), -are not covered by G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 266, § 29. These indictments are, nevertheless, controlled by the Brandano case.