Nahant man accused of attacking disabled friend

LYNN – A Nahant man is out on $7,500 cash bail after allegedly breaking into a disabled friend’s home and attacking him with a 2×4 after the alleged victim criticized the defendant for spending Father’s Day away from his family.”After he got home (the defendant) received another text stating he was a bad father and he should be with his kids and not another woman,” Lynn Police Officer Gregory Brotherton wrote in a police report.A defense attorney, however, said the defendant was being harassed by the alleged victim after helping the alleged victim’s ex file a restraining order.”There’s more than meets the eye here,” defense attorney Randy Chapman said Monday evening.Michael Lewis, 36, of 48 Willow Road, Nahant, was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; assault and battery on a disabled person; and armed burglary; at 5:12 a.m. Sunday. He was arraigned on the charges Monday in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.Lynn Police reported responding at approximately 3:19 a.m. Sunday to a Springvale Avenue apartment and met the alleged victim “covered in blood … with significant swelling and redness to his neck and an abrasion to the right side of his back.”The alleged victim told police he was awoken to the sound of breaking glass and he grabbed a 3-wood golf club as he heard someone running up the stairs to his bedroom, police reported. The alleged victim told police he opened the door to find Lewis swinging a 2×4 and the alleged victim swung the golf club.”(The alleged victim) fell to the floor and Lewis mounted him and began choking him,” police said. “(The alleged victim) stated that he could not breathe and he was beginning to lose consciousness and seeing black.”The alleged victim said he broke the choke hold and, as Lewis stood up, swung the golf club and was unsure if he hit Lewis as the latter fled.The alleged victim said he then called police.Police reported blood spattered in the upstairs hallway, and a bloody 2×4 at the scene. A blood trail led down the stairs out the rear door – which was damaged “from blunt force from the outside in” – and across the driveway and up nearby Campbell Street.The alleged victim told police he and Lewis were friends and former coworkers who had been drinking at a female friend’s house in Peabody earlier that day. The alleged victim said he then made the comment about Lewis’ choice of company on Father’s Day.Police said that while speaking with police, the alleged victim received a phone call from the woman, saying that Lewis was at Union Hospital. Hospital workers told police Lewis had received 20 staples on his head for two cuts, according to police.Lewis told police he had received harassing texts and phone calls from the alleged victim, police reported.Lewis allegedly said he went to speak with his friend and parked his van in front of his friend’s house, walked in an unlocked back door and then was attacked with a baseball bat.Police said the evidence at the scene did not support this. Brotherton added that the alleged victim is approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 pounds and walks with a cane because of a spinal injury. Lewis is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall and approximately 300 pounds.Essex Assistant District Attorney Mark Byron requested Lewis be held on $25,000 cash bail at the defendant’s arraignment.Chapman said the Lewis had recently helped the female friend – who was the alleged victim’s ex-girlfriend – file a restraining order against the alleged victim. The alleged victim, thinking erroneously that Lewis and the woman were dating, was jealous and began sending “nasty and provocative” text messages to Lewis, Chapman said. Chapman said Lewis had no intention of harming the alleged victim Sunday morning but was attacked.”This is not a situation where Lewis, who has no history of violence, went over there to kill or seriously harm the alleged victim,” Chapman said.Judge James LaMothe ordered $7,500 cash