A story that appeared on page 7 of Saturday's Salem News concerning the dismissal of charges against Joseph Fields, 57, of Swampscott requires clarification.
The charges of witness intimidation and interfering with a liquor inspector against Fields were dismissed for lack of prosecution earlier this month.
Steve O'Connell, a spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, said the decision was made after a prosecutor concluded that they would be unable to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
"We interviewed several witnesses who were summonsed by us as well as witnesses the defense had summonsed and determined that we had insufficient evidence to go forward due to inconsistent statements," said O'Connell. "We couldn't prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt given those inconsistencies."
