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Hanley denies guilt
 City Councilor James Hanley appeared in Attleboro District Court Wednesday for arraignment on larceny charges. (Staff photo by MIKE GEORGE)
Top Headlines Hanley, 64, a Ward 1 city councilor, is accused of larceny of more than $250 for allegedly failing to pay $13,500 in medical expenses incurred by Michael Poulin and his wife, Clara. Poulin, 45, of Pawtucket, is a former business partner in Hanley's weekly newspaper, My Backyard. Hanley's lawyer, Roger Ferris of Attleboro, said the case against his client is the result of a business dispute which belongs in a civil court rather than before a criminal proceeding. Hanley, of 34 Rosewood Ave. in South Attleboro, and the Poulins tried to resolve the dispute out-of-court, but the Poulins made a complaint to police when Hanley did not pay the money he owed by the date they had agreed upon, according to court records. The couple had medical procedures in 2005 and later found that they were not covered by medical insurance because Hanley allegedly neglected to pay the company's health insurance bills and the company canceled the company's policy, according to court records. Hanley did pay some of the prescription bills the couple incurred and was later unsuccessful in trying to resolve a disagreement about the policy with his company's health insurance company, according to court records. "The failure of Mr. Poulin to resolve this business dispute has resulted in him seeking criminal sanctions. This is a civil matter, not a criminal matter and should be resolved in the appropriate forum," Ferris said. In a criminal trial, Ferris said, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hanley intended to deprive the Poulins of their money, which he said was never the case. The complaint filed by Detective Russell Castro, who investigated the case with Detective Timothy Cook Sr., alleges Hanley used funds collected for the Poulins' health coverage to pay other business debts from October 2004 to July 2005. Hanley and Poulin started My Backyard Publishing in March 2000. But the partnership dissolved after the men had a falling out in 2004, according to the police complaint filed in court. As part of the agreement to dissolve the partnership, court records say, Poulin was supposed to retain health insurance coverage for 18 months through My Backyard's group health insurance policy and pay monthly insurance premiums. But Hanley never paid the money to the insurer, United HealthCare Insurance, and used the money instead to pay other bills, according to the complaint. Hanley is due back in court for a pretrial conference Aug. 6.
Post Your Comments Jake wrote on May 31, 2007 8:17 PM: " Joe, all they are saying is that Hanley is a public servant and should be held to a higher standard. " sean wrote on May 31, 2007 8:15 PM: " to perspective: the issue with me is that he is responsible for more than just his "books." he is responsible for our city. i am glad i have more knowledge about the leaders we elect - in this case, jim hanley. whether or not his intent was criminal or this should be taken up as a civil case, he is still displaying incompetence on a personal level and should not be granted the right to potentially mess up on a public level. " Joe Cupertino wrote on May 31, 2007 4:49 PM: " I would like to remind everyone that in this country people are innocent until proven guilty. " Perspective wrote on May 31, 2007 3:03 PM: " There are people who bilk others out of thousands in Ponzi schemes. They get cease and desist orders. This guy screws up his books and faces criminal charges. I feel safe at night now. If he's guilty he should be forced to have an accountant straighten out his books. What benefit is there to closing down a small business? " Dadofnone wrote on May 31, 2007 3:01 PM: " to momoftwo - the reason they have this feature is for people to get involved and post their opinions. Of course we need to get lives, but you're the one reading them :-) " Out of towner wrote on May 31, 2007 2:54 PM: " Nothing's been decided, yet he is judged by the posts here as criminal, incompetent, unethical... I'm hoping none of you are on the jury if I'm ever brought up on charges. " Joe L. wrote on May 31, 2007 2:48 PM: " Hey "mom" you seem to be taking part in this blog, where's your life? " LD wrote on May 31, 2007 2:41 PM: " to Momoftwo: What's your issue? In case you didn't notice, this is a public comment blog. Sounds like it's you who needs a life. I feel sorry for you. " Donna wrote on May 31, 2007 2:36 PM: " Good point Steve...Hey "Mom of Two" issues surrounding civil liberties and justice will ALWAYS be my concern. I have a life - I'm a mom of THREE. Regarding Hanley, he's a government official in my city and I hold him accountable for his actions. " momoftwo wrote on May 31, 2007 1:47 PM: " why don't you all mind your own business and stop blogging every story you read. Get a life! " steve wrote on May 31, 2007 1:22 PM: " This totally sounds like a CIVIL issue to me. Health insurance coverage at best is a contract issue which should be covered outside a criminal court. I have never heard of such a case! Non the less, he is irrisponsible and should have a vote of NO CONFIDENCE. Also, don't hospitals confirm insurance coverage before proceeding. This is another example why we need a public health system. " LD wrote on May 31, 2007 12:21 PM: " I agree with you Donna, what is so hard to understand? He didn't pay the insurance as stated in the agreement and not to mention, he should not be allowed to vote on city finances. No way. He is an unethical person. " Chakra wrote on May 31, 2007 11:56 AM: " Can Hanley get go to the big house if convicted? " Donna wrote on May 31, 2007 11:52 AM: " Get Real, how do you know that? Let's let the courts decide. " Phil wrote on May 31, 2007 11:51 AM: " To Get Real: You seem to draw a quick conclusion before any trial and any evidence. I wouldn't be so quick to call him innocent yet. What I do question is his ability to vote on City finances and such. Maybe not criminal yet but certainly sounding like ethics are in question. All of the above unbecoming of a Councilman. " Get Real wrote on May 31, 2007 10:56 AM: " He may be a poor businessman, but he's not a criminal.
" duh! wrote on May 31, 2007 10:49 AM: " Can't look after your own business properly, syou have no business watch over tax payers business. Time to go cause you sound guilty to me, if nothing else certainly negligant. So just pay the money what's the problem? " Donna wrote on May 31, 2007 10:17 AM: " According to the complaint, Hanley never paid the money to the insurer and used the money to pay other bills - if this is true, it is a CRIMINAL act, why is this so hard to understand? " or
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