BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Appeals Court has overturned the convictions of a Worcester man who was sentenced for luring heroin-addicted women into prostitution.
Angelo Gonzalez of Worcester was sentenced to 7 to 9 years in state prison in March of 2019 after being found guilty of the charges of deriving support from prostitution and human trafficking.
Gonzalez, along with Robert Nieves of Southbridge, reportedly gave women the drug after they engaged in prostitution, giving him and other members of the Kirby Street gang the money.
However the State Appeals Court has now overturned the convictions, because the judge in the case went against objections from the defense team, and allowed a juror who had family connections to the Worcester Police Department to participate.
The appeals court noted that the juror had prior knowledge of the Kirby Street gang, and had already formed negative opinions before the trial.
Following the overturning of the convictions, a new trial has been ordered for the same charges.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|iHeartmedia App
(Photo: Getty Images)
Written by Rachel Armany