Couple allegedly assaults woman during break-in

LYNN – A judge ordered pretrial probation for a local couple who allegedly broke into a woman’s home and beat her with a candle holder following an undescribed incident at the methadone clinic.April D. Ryan, 36, of 12 Cherry St. #2, turned herself in on a warrant and was arrested and charged with felony daytime breaking and entering putting a person in fear; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; assault and battery; and threat to commit crime; at 9:41 p.m. Friday.Michael McAleer, 37, of 12 Hillcrest Circle #2, Swampscott, was arrested and charged with felony daytime breaking and entering putting a person in fear; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and assault and battery; at 6:15 p.m. Friday.Pleas of not guilty were entered on each defendant’s behalf at their respective arraignments Monday and Tuesday, according to court documents.Police responded to another Cherry Street home at approximately 5:30 p.m. Friday when a woman said people had broken into her home and beaten her.The alleged victim told police she answered a knock at her door to find Ryan and her boyfriend, McAleer, according to a report by Lynn Police Officer David Hines. The alleged victim told police Ryan had previously been harassing her via text message, but the alleged victim didn’t understand why, and an argument ensued after she opened her door.The alleged victim told police she told Ryan and McAleer to leave and went back inside her apartment.”She said Ryan and McAleer came rushing in and pushed (the alleged victim) against a wall in the room,” police said. “At some point, Ryan took a ceramic candle holder and began hitting (the alleged victim) in the head.”Ryan and McAleer allegedly fled when the alleged victim got a phone and said she was calling police.The alleged victim pointed out the suspects’ address and identified McAleer, according to police. Officers arrested McAleer immediately.Ryan turned herself in at Lynn Police Headquarters that evening, and police reported she became argumentative and verbally abusive during booking.”Ryan called (the matron) an extremely inappropriate name then warned her that she better not catch her on the street,” Hines reported.Monday in court, Essex Assistant District Attorney Andrew Boyd requested Ryan be held on $5,000 cash bail. He said Ryan’s record included 20 guilty convictions, including armed robbery convictions.Court-appointed defense attorney Amy Sixt said the story of the alleged victim, however, “doesn’t really make sense given there are no visible injuries to her … despite what is described as a lengthy and, I would suggest, violent attack,” Sixt said.Sixt also said her client’s last armed robbery conviction dated to 1999, and Ryan had successfully completed probation in all of her previous cases.Judge James Wexler ordered Ryan released on personal recognizance Monday.Prosecutors requested $1,000 cash bail for McAleer on Tuesday. Judge Emily Karstetter ordered him released on the $250 bail he had posted to be released from custody over the weekend, according to a spokesperson for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.Both defendants are scheduled to return to court July 1.