Solet Calls for Closing Dangerousness Law Loophole; Criticizes DA Marian Ryan for Silence on Reform

Democratic Challenger Says Prosecutors Need the Tools to Keep the Most Dangerous Offenders Off the Streets 

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MA — Democratic candidate for Middlesex District Attorney David Solet is calling for immediate reform of Massachusetts' dangerousness law, criticizing incumbent District Attorney Marian Ryan for refusing to support bipartisan legislation that would restore prosecutors' authority to seek the pretrial detention of individuals charged with some of the Commonwealth's most dangerous crimes.

Under a loophole created by a 2019 court decision, prosecutors are currently barred from requesting a dangerousness hearing for defendants charged with some of the most serious criminal offenses, including cross-burning, bomb-making, and aggravated rape of a child. As a result, judges in these cases are prohibited from considering whether a defendant poses an ongoing threat to public safety before trial.

Leaders from both parties, including former Republican Governor Charlie Baker and Democratic Senator John Velis, have filed legislation to close the loophole. The Boston Globe Editorial Board has also urged lawmakers to act, writing that "five years after an SJC justice called for a legislative fix, the loophole that prevents dangerousness hearings for some types of defendants has still not been closed." But the Legislature has failed to act, and victims remain in danger.

Solet pointed to the tragic case of an Acton teenager, Christina Wilson. She revealed to her mother that she had been sexually assaulted by her stepfather, and he was charged. But then the stepfather was released on a plastic ankle bracelet, even after being indicted for six counts of Aggravated Rape of a Child. In 2024, he snipped off the plastic ankle bracelet, drove to the town of Acton, where he knew his victim would be, abducted Christina, and killed her. When asked how a defendant charged with such serious crimes had been released, a spokesperson for the incumbent District Attorney stated that prosecutors were legally barred from seeking a dangerousness hearing because aggravated rape of a child is not among the offenses currently eligible under Massachusetts law. 

The office declined to comment further on whether the law should be changed, and the incumbent District Attorney has made no effort to close the loophole in the years following Christina’s death.

"The response shouldn't be to accept a broken system," Solet added. "It should be to fix it. The incumbent District Attorney has refused to support restoring this authority because she said it would place greater responsibility on her office. I believe that responsibility comes with the job. As District Attorney, I will support closing this loophole and restoring prosecutors' ability to argue that defendants with a demonstrated history of violence should be detained before they have another opportunity to hurt someone. The people of Middlesex County deserve a District Attorney who will not only use the laws we have to protect public safety, but who has the courage to speak out when the laws we have are not good enough.”

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