Carlos Henriquez, Mass. State Rep., released on bail, denies kidnapping and assault accusations

[The Northerner]

(CBS/AP) BOSTON - After being released on bail, Massachusetts State Rep. Carlos Henriquez released a statement on Monday night proclaiming his innocence against accusations that he assaulted and kidnapped a woman last weekend, CBS Boston reports.

The first-term state representative pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Monday in Roxbury District Court on charges of domestic kidnapping, witness intimidation and larceny under $200. He was released on $1,000 bail.

In the statement, Henriquez thanked his supporters and expressed his personal and public mission against domestic violence.

"I have been accused of some serious charges, these allegations are completely untrue," Henriquez said. "I have dedicated myself to protecting women, not abusing or assaulting them. Putting my hands on a woman is contradictory to my upbringing and my own morals."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57469624-504083/carlos-henriquez-mass-state-rep-released-on-bail-denies-kidnapping-and-assault-accusations/


Though he's facing some serious charges I'll wait for him to face trial before reaching any conclusion.

[MADem]

1. The young woman has lawyered up and has made a statement.

The girlfriend (there is a substantial age difference) described a "Chris Brown-like" episode in the car near Northeastern at two in the morning. He was supposedly choking/belting the young lady and would not let her get out--she jumped out of his moving car and ran to a NE security guard.

She's not hiding, either--she has come forward and has made a statement, she refuses to play the helpless, cowering victim, she will not let her name be dragged through the mud, and, certainly, while we wait for the courts to grind their way through this case, I'd say this guy has an uphill climb, particularly if there are any marks at all on the young woman--and if her account of him striking her with a closed fist and choking her are true, there might be:

The woman, later identified as Katherine Gonzalves, 23, said Henriquez punched her repeatedly and strangled her in the car.

Henriquez was arrested after Gonzalves jumped out of the car near Northeastern University and asked a security officer for help.

Gonzalves' mother, who did not giver her name, said this is not the first time the UMass Boston student had issues with Henriquez, and warned her to stay away from him.

"He's very mean, the way he treated Kathy before, the way he talked to her," she said.



Read more: http://www.wcvb.com/news/politics/State-Rep-released-on-bail-after-fight-with-girlfriend/-/9848766/15453186/-/102jnhv/-/index.html#ixzz20OrH6SBk

The charges are pretty serious:

BOSTON -- The young woman allegedly assaulted by freshman state Rep. Carlos Henriquez told police that the Dorchester Democrat punched her repeatedly with a closed fist and strangled her in the early morning hours Sunday when he refused to let her out of his car.

Henriquez, 35, pleaded not guilty to charges of domestic kidnapping, witness intimidation and larceny on Monday in Roxbury Municipal Court, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. Judge Kenneth Fiandaca set bail at $1,000 - the amount Henriquez posted following his arrest. He was released and is due back in court on Sept. 27. Attorney Stephanie Soriano-Mills is representing Henriquez. A legislative aide to Henriquez said he would release a statement today.

Henriquez was arrested around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday on charges of domestic assault and battery and kidnapping after the woman, 23, told police she had been held against her will in the vehicle, and what started as a verbal argument escalated into a physical attack, according to Boston police.

A spokesman for the Suffolk District Attorney said the assault charges would be referred to Middlesex County after a review of the evidence because it is believed the assault took place in Arlington after Henriquez picked the woman up at her mother's home around 2 a.m.



Read more: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/politics/ci_21042177/woman-claims-rep-carlos-henriquez-punched-choked-her#ixzz20OswQBjd

We'll have to wait until September to see what shakes out.