Waltham man arraigned in superior court on charges connected to October armed robbery

William Patrick Ford, 44, homeless, of Waltham, pleaded not guilty to armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon and threat to commit a crime at an arraignment at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on Dec. 23. 

Ford was arraigned on the same charges as well as two counts of possession of a class B drug at Waltham District Court on Oct. 7. He was indicted on the four charges by a superior court grand jury on Nov. 13.

Ford was arrested by Waltham police following an armed robbery outside the Mobil gas station at 1335 Main St. on Oct. 6. 

According to a police report, officers responded to a report of customers fighting outside the gas station and upon arrival spoke with the alleged victim and two additional witnesses who said Ford threatened the victim verbally and with a knife.

Additionally, the report said Ford held the knife to the victim’s neck and ordered him to give him his wallet.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggan ordered Ford remain held on dangerousness at the Middlesex Jail in Billerica pending a dangerousness hearing at Middlesex Superior Court scheduled for Dec. 29.

Ford is scheduled to appear via Zoom for a status review hearing at Waltham District Court on Jan. 20.

Additional court actions

Waltham District Court Judge Ellen M. Caulo scheduled discovery compliance and jury election hearings for Thomas James Verdini, 19, of 25 Crescent St., Waltham, and Christian Jose Alvarado, 22, of 31 Middlesex Circle, Waltham, on Dec. 22. Verdini and Alvarado both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments on Oct. 27 to various drug- and alcohol-related charges in relation to a traffic stop on Oct. 26. Verdini is charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute a class B drug, two charges of possession with intent to distribute a class C drug, charges of possession with intent to distribute class D and E drugs, and underage possession of liquor. Alvarado is charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Both defendants are scheduled to appear at Waltham District Court on Jan. 26.

Caulo scheduled a discovery compliance and jury election hearing for Breyson Eduardo Barrera Pineda, 24, of 24 Lexington Terrace, Waltham, at a pretrial hearing at Waltham District Court on Dec. 22. Pineda was initially arraigned on a charge of trafficking 200 grams or more of cocaine on Oct. 2, which was amended to a possession with intent to distribute a class B substance charge on Nov. 26. He is scheduled to appear at Waltham District Court on Feb. 10.

Caulo rescheduled a probable cause hearing for Justo Murillo Sanchez, 38, of 83 Lexington St., Waltham, on Dec. 22. Murillo Sanchez was arraigned on 12 charges relatedto a July shooting at Waltham District Court on Jul. 26. Caulo ordered he remain held at Middlesex Jail on $15,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear via Zoom at Waltham District Court on Jan. 6.

Caulo dismissed charges of withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding, extortion by threat of injury and felony possession of a firearm for Gaby Sandoval-Matute, 31, of 83 Lexington St., Waltham, a co-defendant of Justo Murillo Sanchez, at a status review hearing on Dec. 23. Caulo ordered Sandoval-Matutue remain held at Middlesex Correctional Institute in Framingham on $1,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing at Waltham District Court on Jan. 28.
All information for this story was gathered from court proceedings and official court documents at Waltham District Court and case information from masscourts.org.