Men Avoid Jail Time for Fireworks Incident at Harvard Medical School

Two Massachusetts men have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay fines after pleading guilty to setting off fireworks inside an empty Harvard Medical School building. The incident on October 30, 2023, led to a significant law enforcement response and heightened campus anxiety.

Logan David Patterson, 19, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 21, were in the Boston area for Halloween parties when they broke into the Goldenson Building, ignited a firework, and fled before dawn. No injuries were reported.

In April, both men pleaded guilty to conspiring to damage a building using a large commercial firework. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley sentenced each to three years of probation, 300 hours of community service, and a joint fine of $28,517.

Prosecutors had requested six months of home confinement for the pair, but the judge denied the request. "I believe the harsh consequences that flowed from this conviction are a sufficient deterrent," Kelley stated.

In addition to probation and fines, Patterson and Cardoza must each write a letter of apology to Harvard University. Patterson also apologized in court, acknowledging, "This was a very serious act. At the time, I thought my actions were harmless and they turned out to be much bigger."

Stefan Rozembersky, Cardoza's lawyer, described the sentence as fair given the circumstances. He emphasized that neither defendant had a prior criminal record and both are employed. Rozembersky characterized the incident as "mischief that went way out of control," stating it was not a targeted attack but rather a result of "a couple of kids with firecrackers."

Despite avoiding jail time, Rozembersky noted that the felony conviction carries significant long-term consequences, potentially limiting future opportunities.

According to court documents, the defendants were visiting the Wentworth Institute of Technology for Halloween activities. Surveillance footage showed them approaching the medical school building wearing face coverings. They gained access to the building via the roof, climbing scaffolding, because they believed it to be abandoned. The pair lit a Roman candle outside and placed a cherry bomb inside a locker, where it exploded. A responding Harvard police officer observed two individuals fleeing the building.

Prosecutors argued that the offense was serious, even if motivated by immaturity rather than malicious intent. They noted the defendants trespassed on a university building in the middle of the night, detonated a firework causing property damage and public alarm, and fled the scene.

The men faced potential penalties of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.