HYDE SQ.—The landlord involved in a heated dispute over the closure of the Slice O’ Pie pizzeria at 378 Centre St. will face a criminal charge of making threats after failing to appear at a July 9 court hearing, according to a West Roxbury District Court official.
John A. Meehan of Roslindale is scheduled to be arraigned by a judge on Aug. 1. An arraignment is an official reading of a criminal complaint, with the defendant usually expected to enter a plea. Meehan did not respond to Gazette phone calls and emails.
Meehan and former pizzeria owner Eric Ciampa are locked in argument about Ciampa’s surprise shutdown of the shop in May, as the Gazette previously reported. Ciampa alleges that Meehan threatened him and his girlfriend as part of a plot to take over the shop, a plan Meehan previously denied.
Meehan alleges that Ciampa stole his equipment from the shop and used it at another pizzeria. Meehan filed a felony larceny complaint against Ciampa. The status of that complaint is unclear. Ciampa also did not respond to Gazette questions.
Meehan was supposed to go before a clerk magistrate on July 9 for a hearing to determine whether he would face criminal charges. Ciampa, his girlfriend and a Boston Police detective showed up, but Meehan did not, according to a court official. Meehan is not in trouble for not appearing, but it meant that the criminal charge is now filed.