Commonwealth v. Molino

Indicted for trafficking in cocaine (G. L. c. 94C, § 32E [1988 ed.]) and for assault and battery on a police officer (G. L. c. 265, § 13D [1990 ed.]), the defendant, Bert M. Molino, was convicted by a Superior Court jury on both indictments. He appeals from his conviction of traffick ing in cocaine. We transferred the case to this court on our own motion. The defendant argues that the trial judge violated his constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial by excessively limiting the role of standby counsel. He also contends that the judge based the sentence on impermissible…