Officer Maguire's Shooting Suspect Arraigned Monday

A Newburyport man, already facing charges related to the  of  on Dec. 26, 2010, pleaded not guilty Monday during his arraignment on robbery charges originating out of Stoneham.

Arthur Cinelli, 50, was arraigned at  at about 9:40 a.m. Monday, on charges of armed robbery (two counts), stealing by confining (two counts) and larceny over $250 for a robbery of the  on Main Street on Nov. 14, 2010. 

The prosecution requested Cinelli be held without bail due to his lengthy criminal history, including several felony convictions. Cinelli, who was not present for the arraignment, is currently being held at Strafford (N.H.) County jail on felony drug charges. He pleaded guilty to the charges and is expected to be sentenced on Aug. 25.

The defense lobbied briefly for Cinelli to be released from prison, but Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail.

Cinelli, who is expected to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Monday on charges related to the Woburn case, is scheduled to return to Superior Court for a pre-trial hearing Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. 

According to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, Cinelli participated in the Stoneham crime with his brother, Dominic, who shot and killed Officer Maguire during the armed robbery of Kohls in December. Dominic Cinelli was killed in the shootout. 

Arthur Cinelli, 50, of Newburyport, was indicted in June on the Stoneham charges. He was  with conspiracy to commit masked armed robbery and accessory before the fact to masked armed robbery in connection with the Dec. 26 Kohl's robbery. He is also a defendant in a federal drug case in New Hampshire. 

The Newburyport man is in federal custody in New Hampshire. 

"This most recent allegation against Arthur Cinelli continues to reveal the nature, scope and extent of his agreement with, and involvement in, the violent escapades of his brother Dominic,” said Leone in June.  “We allege that this defendant engaged in the execution of armed robberies, putting innocent lives at risk, making his alleged criminal actions all the more troubling.”

According to authorities, two men entered the Stoneham Stop & Shop "single file" about an hour before the store was to close. As a part of that closing process,  the store manager began to gather cash and lottery tickets to be placed in the cash office’s safe.

Police allege that Arthur Cinelli walked across the parking lot, with a distinct limp. The other man, later identified as the defendant’s now deceased brother, Domenic Cinelli, walked directly toward the cash office.          

"Walking quickly, Domenic Cinelli brushes past the store manager and a second employee, produces a gun and waves her through the cash office’s door," said Leone in the June statement. 

Authorities claim that the store's surveillance video shows Dominic Cinelli, gun in hand, ordering the manager to the safe and removing cash. 

"Meanwhile, the defendant paces in the area immediately inside the front door of the store," said the district attorney. "He continues to clutch  a cell phone, walking back and forth in the space between the cash office and the door."

After getting the cash, the late Cinelli is seen going to the front door, said authorities. 

"The defendant, still holding the phone, is seen falling into step behind him and heads out of the store," Leone said. "They are both last seen disappearing around a corner in the parking lot."

Police used phone records to track the brothers' movements before entering the Stoneham store, noticing hits off cell towers in New Hampshire, down Route 93 and Route 95 and again Wakefield. Dominic Cinelli, at the time, was living in Wakefield and Arthur was a Weare, N.H. resident. 

"The calls continued from Wakefield to the Montvale Avenue exit," Leone said. "The Stop and Shop is located a short distance from that exit."

Stoneham and Woburn Police, along with the State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office are still investigating. 

District Attorney's Office General Counsel Marian Ryan will be arguing the case. She is also the attorney on file for Arthur Cinelli's other case in connection with Officer Maguire's death. 

"These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty," said Leone in June.