Suspect in Lynn pit bull attack, robbery not ruled a danger

LYNN – A judge ordered $1,500 cash bail but said a city man who allegedly robbed a pedestrian by siccing a pitbull on the alleged victim did not qualify as dangerous.”There’s not enough here for a finding of dangerous that satisfies the requirements,” Lynn District Court Judge James LaMothe said Tuesday. “I do think the charges are serious and that bail is warranted, however.”John Dorceus, 24, of 41 Lover’s Leap Lane #2, pleaded not guilty on June 11 to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and armed robbery. He was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Tuesday.Police reported responding at 3:19 p.m. June 11 to the area of 96 New Park St. on the report of a possible past robbery and a victim bitten by a pit bull.Police met the alleged victim, a 31-year-old city man, who said through a witness translator that he (the defendant) was walking to the New Park Street address when a man later identified as Dorceus demanded his money. Dorceus then allegedly released a gray-and-white pit bull on the alleged victim when the latter had little cash. The alleged victim told police Dorceus stole his phone and a small amount of cash. Police reported the alleged victim received severe cuts to his face, nose and lip.The alleged victim told police he saw a friend and another person on the street after the attack and yelled that Dorceus had just robbed him. One of the witnesses allegedly followed the defendant and retrieved the cell phone. The alleged victim positively identified the defendant as the robber. But Dorceus told arresting officers he had been asleep.But the alleged victim had difficulty on the stand at the dangerousness hearing Tuesday.”He’s answering another question than the one I have been asking,” public defender Mark Schmidt told LaMothe at one point during cross examination.”He’s been doing that all along,” LaMothe replied.Schmidt agreed.And while the other two witnesses testified that Dorceus passed them with the dog and had been identified by the alleged victim as the robber, neither saw the alleged incident or described the dog as threatening.Essex Assistant District Attorney Danielle Doherty-Wirwicz said the alleged victim clearly identified Dorceus as the robber and the person who ordered the dog to attack. She also said Dorceus was on release on a threats charge in which he allegedly posted a picture of the gun on Facebook.She requested Dorceus be held with bail pending trial.Schmidt said there was no indication that the referenced gun was real or even belonged to the defendant. As for the alleged pit-bull attack?”I’m not seeing clear and convincing evidence here that would require he be held,” Schmidt said.LaMothe agreed but set $1,500 bail in the matter. He also asked about the pit bull. Attorneys said they believed the dog had been killed.Dorceus is scheduled to return to court June 25.