FALL RIVER - A 37-year-old Fall River man arrested last month for allegedly trafficking in cocaine while already out on bail for a pending cocaine distribution, has been ordered held without bail under the state’s dangerousness statute in Fall River Superior Court, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Khalid Awer was arrested by Fall River Police on May 23, 2017, and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine-subsequent offense. The defendant was arraigned in fall River District Court and held on $20,000 cash bail at the time. After having this case indicted to the Superior Court level, the defendant posted bail and was awaiting trial on the case.

Then on August 8, 2017, the defendant was again arrested by Fall River Police, this time for trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The new arrest drew District Attorney Quinn’s attention, and on the date of the defendant district court arraignment on the new arrest, the District Attorney approved the presentment of the case to the Grand Jury on the same day. The Grand Jury returned its indictment against the defendant days later.

Prosecutors handling the cases pushed for a dangerousness hearing in Fall River Superior Court, which was held late last week. After the completion of the dangerousness hearing, Judge Thomas McGuire found the defendant to be a danger to the community and ordered him held without bail pending trial or disposition of his superior court cases.

“I applaud Judge McGuire for holding this defendant without bail under the state’s dangerousness statute. This defendant has several prior convictions for drug dealing and was out on $20,000 cash bail when he was caught selling large quantities of drugs again,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This defendant is a danger to the community based upon the repetitive nature of the allegations, and should be held without bail pending the outcome of these cases. When his latest arrest was brought to my attention, I approved an immediate indictment.”

-Bristol County District Attorney's Office

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