Dukes County Superior Court in Edgartown always processes a full list of criminal cases in October. And this past Monday was no exception. There was a state prison sentence issued in a cocaine case, a rape case likely headed for jury trial, and a not-guilty plea entered on an attempted murder indictment.
Travis J. Viera, 26, of Edgartown, who was charged with possession with intent to distribute a class B substance, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and possession of a class C substance, changed his plea to guilty at 9 am during a change-of-plea hearing Monday. He was sentenced to three years and a day in state prison.
The prosecution declined to continue pursuing Viera’s charge of a firearm violation with three prior violent drug crimes. A conviction for the charge could have meant a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 to 20 years in state prison.
Judge Peter B. Krupp sentenced him on the class B substance distribution charge for no less than three years and no more than three years and a day served at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Facility in Shirley. He has a 350-day credit for his time held at the Dukes County Correctional Facility, from August 8, 2025, to July 24, 2026, while his case was ongoing.
Before Viera was handcuffed and taken into custody, he said he has a 3-year-old son and that he earned his GED, a high school–equivalent credential, while he was held for his charges. Viera’s attorney, Amit Singh, said Viera plans to move to New Hampshire after his time in prison to work for his brother’s pool company, and described his actions that lead to his charges as a “last hurrah.”
Oak Bluffs Police arrested Viera in August 2025 as he arrived on a Steamship Authority ferry at the Oak Bluffs terminal. Search warrants were issued for his body, motorcycle, and his home, which turned up a brick-shaped package police believed to be a kilogram of cocaine, estimated at $100,000, according to police reports. It was one of the largest seizures in Island history.
According to police reports, a confidential source later told investigators that another quantity was missing in an unregistered vehicle in the driveway of Viera’s Edgartown home. Police reports said Viera’s father, David M. Viera, towed the vehicle to his shop on 20th Street, and told police he found and used an “8-ball,” or 3.5 grams of cocaine. Jail calls between Travis and his brother, Nicholas C. Viera, led investigators to a cousin, Jessica Donahue. A search of her house found nothing of evidentiary value. In November 2025, a grand jury indicted David, Nicholas, and Donahue on conspiracy to violate drug laws, accessory after the fact, and interference with a police officer. All three pleaded not guilty on Feb. 18, and are due back in court Oct. 9.
Justin Rashaad Straughter, 42, from Atlanta, Ga. appeared before the court via Zoom. He changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on a reduced charge of assault and battery, and the prosecution declined to proceed on three counts of rape.
The rape counts were disposed by nolle prosequi, which means the prosecution voluntarily decided to not pursue the charges. Straughter pleaded guilty to the fourth count, assault and battery. A jury trial was set for 10 am on Oct. 6, but was canceled because the plea was accepted. Krupp sentenced Straughter to three years of probation, from Oct. 5, 2026, through Oct. 4, 2029. His conditions include to stay away at least 100 yards from the victim and have no contact with them, as well as to complete classes on alcohol and consent.
Brandao Geraldo Alves Caldeira, 39, was arraigned at the courthouse on Monday as well. Caldeira pleaded not guilty to all his indicted charges, which included assault to murder, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering a building for nighttime felony, and witness, juror, police, or court official intimidation. He had a Portuguese interpreter assist him at the courthouse.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica L. Dusenberry filed a motion to hold him at the Dukes County Correctional Facility without bail for dangerousness. Krupp approved holding Caldeira for the week, and a dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9, at the Edgartown Courthouse.
According to police reports, Tisbury Police, assisted by State Police, arrested Caldeira June 21 after a reported domestic attack at a Cook Road home. Witnesses told police Caldeira attacked a woman with a knife, threatened to kill others, damaged property, and swung a knife at neighbors. When officers arrived, the woman was covered in blood and semi-conscious, with a deep laceration on the inside of her left arm. Officers had to physically separate Caldeira from the victim, according to police reports, and she was taken to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital with serious injuries, but in stable condition. Caldeira was arraigned on June 22 this year, and indicted on Sept. 9.
Caldeira, who was born in Brazil, had a detainer lodged for him by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 22. ICE identified him as Geraldo Gomes-Alves. A habeas corpus petition, used to challenge alleged unlawful detention and prevent defendants from deportation while court proceedings are underway, was filed for Caldeira on June 26.
Chad Atkinson, 35, who now lives in Virginia, has another final trial conference scheduled for Oct. 15. Atkinson has had multiple jury trials rescheduled, and the final trial conference gives his attorneys, Natalie Sreca and Joseph B. Simons, a chance to reach a plea agreement with the commonwealth before his jury trial, scheduled for Oct. 19.
Atkinson was indicted in June 2023 for rape and kidnapping, for which he entered a plea of not guilty.
Sreca and Simons plan to discuss the collateral consequences of a plea with Atkinson, and finalization of prospective jurors is in the process.
Tisbury Police arrested Atkinson in September 2022. Then, prosecutors detailed a series of events where a 16-year-old had just left the Tisbury Fire Department car show on Sept. 18 when a black sedan with tinted windows pulled up. They alleged that Atkinson drove the victim to Lambert’s Cove, raped her, and dropped her at a Tisbury coffee shop, then continued to call and text her. Police arrested him after a sting where he agreed to meet the victim at the same coffee shop. In October 2022, a judge allowed Atkinson to travel to Florida for work, over the prosecution’s objection. He posted a $20,000 bail in August 2023.
Macaleer B. Schilcher, 41, remains scheduled for a jury trial on Oct. 26. He was indicted on December 1, 2023, on four counts of rape.
Assistant District Attorney Courtney Scalice said she has discussed pretrial motions with defense attorney Rob Moriarty, and were not sure they would reach a plea.
Krupp asked how likely the case is to be resolved.
“Not very good,” Moriarty said.
Krupp set a final trial conference for 3 pm on Oct. 19.
“If the matter’s going to resolve, we will do a plea on [Oct.] 19th. Otherwise we will do a panel on the 26th,” Krupp said.
Schilcher, who ran for the Tisbury Select Board in 2023, was indicted in December 2023 on four counts of rape. He pleaded not guilty. In June 2025, Edgartown Police arrested him after he sat behind a victim that he was ordered to stay 100 yards from in a nearly empty courtroom.
Victim-witness advocate Stephanie Andrade told police that other seats were available. Moriarty called it an incidental violation. A Falmouth District Court hearing later found he was not in violation. He spent that night at the Dukes County House of Correction.
