Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Man charged in North End indecent assault
Cornelius Williams was arraigned on one count of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and one count of assault to rape, officials announced.
A 34-year-old Boston man was arraigned Tuesday on indecent assault charges in connection with the attempted rape of a woman in the North End last week.
Cornelius Williams was arraigned on one count of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and one count of assault to rape, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutors allege that around 10:53 p.m. on May 14, Williams followed a woman into her apartment building in the area of Margaret Street, grabbed her legs, and started licking her toes. He allegedly tried to pulled her dress off, but was unsuccessful.
Advertisement:
The woman screamed and said she would call 9-1-1, prosecutors said. It was then that he allegedly ran away.
Video footage from the area captured Williams following the woman several blocks to her building, the DA’s office said.
Williams was arrested by police on Monday around 5:06 p.m. in the area of 25 Staniford St.
According to court filings, Williams was previously charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in March. He had been released on the condition he stay away from the victim and any witnesses in that case.
During his arraignment on Tuesday, prosecutors told the court Williams was also accused of a similar incident in 2020, NBC10 Boston reports.
Advertisement:
According to the station, a defense attorney for the 34-year-old argued he has a history of mental health problems and was suffering from auditory hallucinations on the day of the alleged assault in the North End.
At his arraignment on Tuesday, Williams was ordered held without bail, according to court filings. He will return to court for a dangerousness hearing on Friday.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com