March 26, 2018: Norfolk District Attorney’s Office
Radoslaw Czerkawski, 37, has been found guilty by a Norfolk Superior Court jury of all 12 animal cruelty counts against him, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said today (March 26, 2018) Czerkawski will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Superior Courthouse in Dedham. “The Quincy Police Department took this case very seriously from the onset,” District Attorney Morrissey said after the verdict. “Law enforcement at every level needs to treat animal cruelty cases as the serious crimes that they are. The Quincy Police Department’s work in this investigation laid the foundation for this just verdict. I also recognize that Assistant District Attorneys Greg Connor, Tracey Cusick and Stephanie Glennon did outstanding work presenting this case to the jury.” Morrissey also thanked the Quincy Animal Shelter and three veterinarians whose contributions he called “invaluable:” Dr. Amanda Duffy, Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore and Dr. Diana Rosenstein. “This was a rare case, perhaps the first time in Massachusetts, that the Commonwealth has successfully admitted canine DNA analysis as evidence.” Math professor Dr. John Rhodes of the University of Alaska (Fairbanks) offered his expert assistance in statistical analysis of the DNA evidence pro bono. Florida Anthropology professor Dr. Jonathan Bethard provided technical expertise in the case pro bono as well. Two jurors were replaced by alternates this morning deliberations began again at roughly 9:30 a.m. and a verdict was reached about 2 p.m. Although the statute has since been amended, the charges of animal cruelty of which Czerkawski now stands convicted carry a maximum penalty of 5 years in state prison. Czerkawski is currently serving state prison sentences on other matters. He was found guilty in Norfolk Superior Court of Larceny and sentenced to 3 to 5 years State Prison on July 21, 2015.