Lawyer accused of smuggling heroin

A Boston lawyer was arraigned yesterday on drug charges after he was allegedly found with packets of heroin as he was about to visit clients in the state prison in Walpole.

Kevin L. Barron was being searched by correction officers about 5 p.m. Tuesday before entering MCI-Cedar Junction when the officers found "small packets of a powdery substance" that was heroin, said David Traub, spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney.

Barron, 46, pleaded not guilty yesterday in Wrentham District Court to charges of delivering drugs to a prisoner, possession of a Class A substance, and possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance.

Barron's Boston-based lawyer, Elliot Weinstein, said: "Kevin is innocent. He's a good man. Someone took advantage of Kevin's standing as an attorney. Kevin did not knowingly commit any crime." Weinstein would not elaborate on Barron's defense.

Barron was released on personal recognizance but with a bail warning from Judge Warren Powers, that if he is arrested again, he could be held without bail up to 60 days.

Powers ordered Barron to stay away from state prisons. But Weinstein said he would seek to have that order modified "because he's a good lawyer and how else can he effectively represent his clients if he can't meet with them?"

"This is an unusual circumstance," Traub said. "We have seen other cases where individuals were accused of trying to bring things in. I personally can't recall one involving an attorney."

Susan Martin, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Correction, said she could not comment specifically on this case.

"Of course, we're concerned about people trying to smuggle any type of contraband, but we do have well-trained correction officers who follow search procedures to prevent smuggling," she said.

Barron's website describes him as a defense lawyer in Boston who practices in federal court. He received his law degree in 1987 from Boston College Law School. His next court date is Nov. 20.