A Hyde Park woman accused of attacking two Market Basket employees during a shoplifting confrontation last fall has admitted to the allegations in court, but will avoid a conviction if she stays out of trouble for the next year. Rahjane J. Byrd, 29, entered the plea deal in Brockton District Court, admitting to sufficient facts on four separate charges tied to the October 2025 incident at a West Bridgewater supermarket.
Byrd admitted to sufficient facts on counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, shoplifting by asportation, and disorderly conduct, according to The Boston Globe. Rather than entering a formal guilty plea, Byrd's admission allows a judge to continue her case without a finding for one year, with conditions that she stay away from the victims and the Market Basket store, as the Globe reported.
What Happened at the West Bridgewater Store
The case traces back to October 26, 2025, when West Bridgewater Police responded to the supermarket at 352 West Center Street at around 5 p.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance, according to a statement from the West Bridgewater Police Department. Police said an employee had seen the women conceal merchandise and that they did not pay for the items at checkout.
The Globe's reporting fills in the detail of what was taken: Byrd and her sister, Olivia L. Byrd, 37, of Quincy, allegedly put prime ribeye, truffle butter, and other meat in a bag before leaving checkout without paying. When an employee confronted them, the sisters responded by screaming obscenities and attacking two store employees, the paper reported. Police took both women into custody at the scene.
Sister's Case Already Resolved
Olivia Byrd's case moved through the courts well ahead of her sister's. She pleaded guilty in Brockton District Court in August, and a judge sentenced her to one year of probation, according to the same account from the Globe. She was also ordered to stay away from the victims and the store, and to enroll in anger management, as reported by Boston 25 News.
The two news outlets differ on what prosecutors asked for in Rahjane Byrd's case. The Globe reported that prosecutors requested she be sentenced to serve one year in jail and two years of probation. Boston 25 News, however, reported that the Commonwealth had asked that Byrd plead guilty and be sentenced to two years. The judge ultimately opted to continue the case without a finding for a year rather than imposing either requested sentence, though the judge did adopt the stay-away conditions prosecutors sought.
Police Statement on the Arrests
In its original release following the arrests, the West Bridgewater Police Department said both women were arraigned in Brockton District Court the following Monday and released on personal recognizance. The department also included a standard disclaimer in its statement: “All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
