Saugus man charged with assaulting pregnant woman

LYNN – A judge ordered a Saugus man held without bail after a woman told police she saw the defendant punch a pregnant woman outside a Route 1 Walgreens early Saturday morning.”(The alleged witness) then announced to the male and female that she was calling the police, and she then called 911,” Saugus Police Officer Gregory Mazzone wrote in a report. “(The witness) stated that the male again began to slap her, and (the alleged witness) observed the male punch the pregnant female in the stomach with a closed fist.”Joseph Claudio, 22, of 181 Essex St. #1, Saugus, was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault and battery; and violation of a town knife ordinance; at 3:56 a.m. Saturday.He pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in Lynn District Court.Attorneys did not argue the alleged facts of the case in open court Monday.But police reported responding to the Hess gas station at 1252 Broadway where the alleged witness pointed out the alleged victim and defendant to police.Police said Claudio was “uncooperative” and insisted the couple was only arguing. Police found a pocket knife with a 4-inch blade, a violation of a town ordinance, when they searched Claudio.Police reported a “swollen red mark” on the alleged victim’s face, but the alleged victim told officers she didn’t know where it came from and the couple was just arguing. Claudio and she had begun arguing several hours earlier because of a text message she found on his phone, the alleged victim told police in the report.”(She) went on to say that she’s fine, and that it’s her fault anyhow,” police reported. Officers noted the alleged victim said she was eight months pregnant.The alleged witness told police she was walking into Walgreens when she heard someone yelling and found the couple fighting near the Essex Street on-ramp, police reported. The alleged witness wrote in a statement that the defendant slapped and punched the alleged victim several times in the face and stomach.Essex Assistant District Attorney Katelyn Giliberti requested that Claudio be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing at a later date.Defense attorney Paul Cacchiotti said the alleged victim, however, had no injuries and that she was ready to testify that the couple only argued.Giliberti then mentioned the reporting witness and said the commonwealth was requesting the continuance for the dangerousness hearing to summons the witness into court.Judge James LaMothe ordered Claudio held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday.