Saugus man charged with strangling wife

LYNN – A judge ordered GPS monitoring and $500 cash bail for a Saugus man who allegedly strangled his new wife until interrupted by his father-in-law. “If not for her father coming into her room that night, because she did black out, I’m afraid of what could have happened,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Erin Bellavia said in Lynn District Court Tuesday.Ryan Shepard, 33, of 26 Waban St., Saugus pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery on a family/household member; and domestic assault and battery, strangulation or suffocation; last Thursday.Saugus Police reported responding to a Prospect Street address early that morning where the alleged victim said she and Shepard had an argument and she was worried he would return and hurt her.The alleged victim’s father told police, however, that it was more than an argument; he saw Shepard on top of the alleged victim in the bedroom.Police said the alleged victim then said Shepard had strangled her until her father came into the room.Judge Joseph Jennings ordered Shepard held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.At the dangerousness hearing Tuesday, the alleged victim gave more details of the alleged incident.She testified that earlier that day she “took control” of her money and brought it to work after seeing phone messages suggesting Shepard was cheating. (Shepard has insisted the alleged victim not control the money she earns or medication she takes, and the defendant does not allow her to have a cellphone, Facebook account or email address, the alleged victim testified). Shepard then allegedly showed up at her job and tried to physically take the money. The alleged victim testified she asked her coworkers to call police but “changed her mind” after Shepard left.The alleged victim said the two later argued at home and she went to her parents’ house because Shepard – a former drug user – seemed to be intoxicated. She testified that she went to sleep and woke up to find Shepard on top of her with his hands around her neck.The alleged victim testified she had to kick the wall to get her father’s attention.”I couldn’t tell him to come in, I couldn’t breathe, I then blacked out,” the alleged victim testified.She said she woke up on the floor and saw the defendant fighting with her father.But the alleged victim also said she didn’t know if she was afraid of the defendant. She said Shepard had guns in the house, but denied that she had said he had previously threatened to kill her.Defense Attorney Russell Sobelman noted there were no injuries noted on the alleged victim and she, initially, repeatedly told police that no physical abuse occurred.Bellavia, however, requested Shepard be found a danger and that a judge order no conditions of release. Bellavia noted the alleged victim did not tell officials until Tuesday that Shepard had shown up at her job or that she awoken to Shepard strangling her.”It appears to be a long history of escalating abuse; they date for four years, and within a month of marriage he strangles her to the point where she blacks out,” Bellavia said. “I don’t know where this is going to progress from here if the defendant is released on conditions.”Sobelman said Shepard agreed to being found a danger but requested conditions of release.”She didn’t hold back anything when she testified, and she told you this is the first time he ever physically assaulted her,” Sobelman said, although prefacing this by saying “one time shouldn’t happen at all.”Sobelman requested Shepard by monitored by GPS and abide by the recently granted restraining order.Judge Cathleen Campbell said she would find Shepard a danger but would order bail conditions.Bellavia then requested conditions including $5,000 cash bail, GPS monitoring, that Shepard abide by the restraining order, and that the defendant remain drug and alcohol free with random tests.Campbell ordered GPS monitoring, that Shepard live with his father and that all firearms be removed from the home, that Shepard ab