Lynn man accused of sexual assault, held without bail

LYNN – A judge ordered a city man held without bail after a woman told police the man assaulted her while trying to solicit her for sex.”At the corner of Huss Court and S. Common Street the suspect hugged (the alleged victim) from behind stating, ?sex, sex, sex, money,'” Lynn Police Officer Nhen Tran wrote in a report. “At the same time (the suspect) moved his hand down?”Erick E. Deleon, 22, of 20 Mall St., #1, was arrested and charged with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over; and accost/annoy a person of the opposite sex.He was arraigned in Lynn District Court Wednesday where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Police responded to Huss Court and S. Common Street at 11:56 p.m. Tuesday on the report of a woman being grabbed, according to police.The alleged victim told officers she had gotten off the bus at the wrong stop and was walking along S. Common Street towards Huss Court when a Hispanic man began walking behind her. The alleged victim described the suspect as approximately 5-foot 7-inches tall and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with ?Ocean City’ written on the front, according to police.The man allegedly tried to get the woman’s attention by asking her for sex, which the woman ignored. As the two approached Huss Court, the suspect allegedly hugged the alleged victim and then moved his hand down and touched the woman’s genitals over her clothing.The woman pulled out her phone and said she was calling police, prompting the suspect to flee, according to police.Police searching for the suspect were flagged down by another woman who reported the man had approached her saying, “sex, sex,” according to a report by Lynn Police Sgt. Donald Kasle. The woman said she had not been assaulted, police said.Police located DeLeon nearby, according to police. Police said the first alleged victim positively identified him as the person who had followed her from the bus stop and allegedly assaulted her.Prosecutors requested DeLeon be held without bail Wednesday pending a dangerousness hearing at a later date.Judge Mary McCabe approved the Commonwealth’s request and scheduled DeLeon to return to court Dec. 2 for a dangerousness hearing.An attorney appointed to represent DeLeon could not be reached Wednesday afternoon. Court documents note DeLeon spoke through a translator at the arraignment.