Lynn man accused of punching pregnant girlfriend; bail at $1G

LYNN – A judge ordered $1,000 cash bail and that a city man who allegedly repeatedly punched his pregnant girlfriend be held for a potential probation violation.But the alleged victim said Thursday she had bruises on her face because she had asked the man to smack her during sex.”What did the victim tell police?” Lynn District Court Judge Mary McCabe asked the prosecutor Thursday afternoon.”The story is different – markedly so,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Shailagh Kennedy replied.Denzel Johnson, 20, of 32 Chestnut St. #5, was arrested on a warrant and charged with assault and battery; and aggravated assault and battery on a pregnant person.Johnson was arraigned on the charges Thursday afternoon in Lynn District Court and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Probation Officer Terry Ward began the bail argument by requesting Johnson be held for a potential probation violation.”He stated he was falsely accused, but we keep getting these allegations over and over again,” Ward said. “He has a heavy suspended sentence hanging over his head. He’s visited our jail, I think he just doesn’t get the point.”But defense attorney Loring Lincoln said there was no probation violation because there was no assault and battery.”During sexual intercourse she asked him to smack her and that was it,” Lincoln said. “It was entirely consensual.”Lincoln said the alleged victim returned home after the sex, however, and her mother saw the bruise and called police.Lincoln noted the alleged victim told the courthouse victim-witness advocate the same story and the alleged victim did not want to pursue charges.But Kennedy said the alleged victim told police a different story.”Her story to police is that they got into an argument because the defendant wanted her to abort the child … he told her he didn’t know her long enough and she was a mistake,” Kennedy said, summarizing from a Lynn Police report. “The defendant said ?I don’t want this (expletive) kid,’ and punched her in the stomach.”Kennedy said the alleged victim told police Johnson also hit her in the face, leaving bruises and a scratch that was bleeding during the interview with officers.Kennedy acknowledged the alleged victim did not want to pursue charges. She said the alleged victim said she needed Johnson’s support for their expected child, including his financial support from his job at McDonalds.Kennedy requested $1,000 cash bail, noting Johnson’s record included previous committed time for domestic assault and battery.Judge Mary McCabe set $1,000 cash bail and ordered Johnson held for a potential probation violation, noting “it appears Mr. Johnson has a habit of domestic assault and battery in related cases.”