Lynn woman allegedly stabs boyfriend in dispute over $20

LYNN – A city woman is out on $2,000 bail after allegedly slashing her boyfriend multiple times with a steak knife during an argument over $20.”(The defendant) then ran into the kitchen, grabbed one of his steak knives and ran back toward him,” Lynn Police Officer Peter Alexander reported the alleged victim told officers. “She then sliced him several times on his forearm. She also scratched him in the left clavicle area.”Cheryl Gillette, 52, of 166 Washington St. #9, was arrested and charged with assault and battery; assault and battery on a person +60/disabled with injury; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and larceny from a person +65; at 8:03 p.m. Tuesday. She pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday in Lynn District Court.Police responded at 6:32 p.m. Tuesday to a Willow Street apartment on the report of a disturbance. Officers reported finding the alleged victim, a 71-year-old city man, with several non-life-threatening cuts running down his left forearm.The alleged victim told police his girlfriend – the defendant – had asked him for $20, but he repeatedly refused, according to police reports. Police said the alleged victim reported he then caught Gillette looking through his pants (which had $65 in a pocket) while she was supposed to be using the bathroom.A struggle for the pants ensued, which the alleged victim told police he won. But the money was allegedly missing.Another struggle allegedly ensued as the alleged victim tried to physically check if the defendant had the money. Gillette lost her balance and hit her face on a dresser during the struggle, the alleged victim told officers, according to the report. Then Gillette allegedly went to the kitchen and grabbed the knife, attacked the alleged victim and then fled.The alleged victim told police Gillette lived with her son on Washington Street, where police found the son and then Gillette.Gillette said she was the victim of a knife assault, however, showing officers an injury to her chin.”This injury appeared to be consistent not with a knife assault but blunt force trauma,” police said. “This injury would be more consistent with (the alleged victim’s) account.”Officers also said Gillette’s son appeared “completely surprised” when asked about his mother’s statements that she had told him (her son) multiple times that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend.Essex Assistant District Attorney Andrew Boyd said Gillette’s record included 10 guilty convictions for assaults, a five-year sentence for armed robbery and 49 guilty findings on separate cases. Boyd requested Gillette be held on $15,000 cash bail and stay away from the alleged victim.Court-appointed defense attorney William O’Shea asked for “a far more modest bail” of $2,000. He said Gillette was a personal care attendant for her disabled son and admitted there was a struggle. But O’Shea said both the defendant and alleged victim were injured and that there may be a Fifth Amendment issue of self-incrimination if the parties testified.Judge Ellen Flatley said that $15,000 would be tantamount to a pretrial detention and accepted O’Shea’s recommendation.Gillette posted the $2,000 bail later that afternoon, and her family declined to comment outside the courtroom.Gillette is scheduled to return to court Aug. 21.