Lynn man accused of indecent assault, attempted robbery

LYNN – A judge ordered a city man held on prior charges and set $3,000 cash bail for new charges including sexual assault, after a prosecutor said the man groped a stranger on the street and tried to steal her purse.”He grabbed her in the crotch area very hard and the victim yelled, ?Why are you doing this to me?'” Essex Assistant District Attorney Emily Mello said Monday in Lynn District Court. “The defendant had the strap of her purse in his hand and appeared to be trying to take it off her shoulder.”Leroy Davis, 20, of 64 Chatham St., was arrested and charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older; disorderly conduct; resisting arrest; and attempt to commit a crime; at 3:30 a.m. Saturday.He was arraigned on the charges in Lynn District Court Monday where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.Police responded to Chatham Street and Sanderson Avenue at around 3 a.m. Saturday where the alleged victim told officers a man had followed her as she walked home from the bus, Mello told the courtroom.Mello said the alleged victim told police the man first approached her saying, “Hey baby, can I have a hug?” The alleged victim told police the man then came right up to her, grabbed her buttocks and then grabbed her crotch while trying to steal her purse, Mello reported.She said the alleged victim told police the man inexplicably yelled “you’re scaring me” as the alleged victim yelled at the man.Mello said an officer saw Davis in the area and noted he matched the suspect’s description. Davis fled when he saw the cruiser; but an officer caught up with Davis when he fell, according to Mello.She said Davis protested his innocence. But the alleged victim said she was “100 percent positive” when she identified Davis as her alleged assailant, according to Mello.Mello requested $5,000 cash bail for the new charges and that the judge revoke Davis’ bail on four open cases, calling the event a “horrendous crime” on a random victim.Court-appointed defense Attorney Amy Sixt said her client denied the allegation and told her he had no idea what the charges referred to until he read the police report.Sixt noted Davis was wearing a T-shirt with a conspicuous, large, bright-green graphic – which the suspect description did not mention. Sixt also said the alleged victim reported her assaulter told her he was following her because he lived on Lafayette Street. She noted Davis lived on Chatham street.Sixt requested $800 cash bail and that bail in prior cases not be revoked, citing Davis’ participation in a program with Catholic Charities in which he works six days a week.Judge Dominic Paratore revoked Davis’ bail on the open cases, ordering him held for up to 60 days. Paratore also ordered $3,000 cash for the new charges and ordered Davis to return to court Oct. 7.A Catholic Charities case worker and Davis’ father declined to comment outside the courtroom.