Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Civil Rights Violation, Criminal Harassment and Illegally Possessing Dozens of Firearms and Ammunition in Lexington Home
LEXINGTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lexington Police Chief Michael McLean have announced that Robert Ivarson, 55, of Lexington, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of possession of an assault weapon, 11 counts of possession of a large capacity weapon, 11 counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device, 24 counts of possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal, 12 counts of possession of a shotgun as an armed career criminal, 41 counts of possession of a rifle as an armed career criminal, criminal harassment, and a criminal civil rights violation in connection with illegally possessing over 73 weapons and targeting a Haitian family in his neighborhood.
“Mr. Ivarson targeted his neighbors because of their race. His repeated throwing of banana peels into their driveway was terrorizing and caused them to feel unsafe in their own home. This case reflects our unwavering commitment to actively prosecuting those who intend to intimidate and threaten members of our communities because of their race,” said District Attorney Ryan. “When someone who commits civil rights violations, at the same time, illegally possesses high capacity firearms, they pose a substantial threat to the safety of the community. As we continue our work to remove unlawfully possessed firearms from our streets we will aggressively use enforcement as a tool to hold those who violate the Commonwealth’s gun laws accountable.”
n December 31, 2016, Lexington Police arrested the defendant and charged him with criminal harassment and the civil rights violation after they determined that he had been throwing banana peels in the early morning hours at the house of a Haitian family living in his neighborhood. The family had reported finding the peels on 30 to 40 occasions over several months and police actually observed the defendant throw the peels in the days prior to his arrest.
On January 6, 2017 Lexington Police, Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and the Lexington Fire Department and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Ivarson’s home in connection with the ongoing investigation. During this search, they recovered approximately 56 pistols and rifles as well as tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, numerous magazines, including large capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, as well as confederate, Ku Klux Klan, and Nazi paraphernalia and photographs. In October of 2017, based upon new information, officers obtained a second warrant to search Ivarson’s home and seized approximately 17 additional weapons, including 10 assault weapons, including AR-15 style rifles with large capacity magazines, an Uzi, and other weapons. In total, investigators seized over 73 weapons from Ivarson’s residence. Ivarson had been prohibited from possessing firearms since the 1990s when he was convicted of various offenses and his firearms license was revoked.
On February 3, 2023, Ivarson pleaded guilty before Superior Court Justice Laurence Pierce who sentenced him to 7 to 9 years in state prison, followed by 3 years of probation. During his probation, Ivarson must have no contact and stay away from the victims and their family, he may not possess firearms, dangerous weapons, ammunition, or magazines, and he must undergo a mental health evaluation and undergo any recommended treatment.
This investigation was conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Lexington Police and Massachusetts State Police. Lincoln Police also assisted in this investigation. Assistant District Attorney Graham Van Epps prosecuted the case, and Anne Foley was the assigned victim witness advocate.