Marblehead woman accused of stabbing boyfriend; bail set at $1G

LYNN – A judge ordered $1,000 cash bail for a Marblehead woman who allegedly stomped on her boyfriend’s injured foot and then stabbed him with a steak knife when he tried to call police.”The alleged victim said the defendant was just released from prison, had two years over her head, and said he didn’t want to get police involved but he couldn’t live like this anymore,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Jacquelyn Kaplan said Tuesday in Lynn District Court.But a defense attorney noted her client was in a wheelchair and said that her client and the alleged victim are both well-known to the court system.”They essentially go back and forth on who’s charged … and trade off on who’s the defendant and who’s the alleged victim,” public defender Alice Jayne said.Leigh Hodges, 60, of 7 Lee St. C, Marblehead, was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; witness intimidation; and assault and battery on a family/household member; at 5:30 p.m. Monday.Hodges pleaded not guilty to the charges, and gasped as they were read aloud, at her arraignment Tuesday in Lynn District Court.The alleged victim asked an officer at Lee and Gregory streets on Monday afternoon to call 911 because his girlfriend had just stabbed him in the hand, Marblehead Police Officer Roy Ballard wrote in a report. The alleged victim said Hodges had become increasingly angry and aggressive during the past few days, and she had just stomped on his left foot, police reported. (Officers noted the foot was in a splint boot). Hodges then allegedly attacked her boyfriend with a knife when he tried to call 911. The alleged victim said Hodges stabbed him in the hand as he tried to protect himself and cut the phone cord so he couldn’t call police. Hodges then allegedly tried to stab her boyfriend in the shoulder as he tried to get the knife from her.Police noted the alleged victim had several cuts on the palm of his left hand and there were blood drops all over the front steps and on the street.Hodges said the alleged victim was a drug addict and had stabbed her in the chest, police reported. Police said Hodges also admitted cutting the phone line because she didn’t want police to send her back to prison.Police reported blood stains in the living room of the couple’s apartment and a phone with its cord cut. Police said paramedics did not find any injuries on Hodges’ chest.A witness allegedly also told police she heard the couple arguing prior to police arriving on the scene. Hodges allegedly ordered her boyfriend back inside the home, to which the alleged victim replied, “no way, not after what you just did to me.” Hodges then allegedly threatened to stab herself.Kaplan requested $5,000 cash bail. She noted that Hodges was less than three months into probation for a previous assault and had a previous assaultive case with the same alleged victim, although those charges had been dismissed.But Jayne noted her client was in a wheelchair because of “significant physical disabilities” affecting her spine and neck. Jayne said her client also had a broken collarbone because of the alleged victim.”She can barely walk, is not really ambulatory,” Jayne said, questioning whether “the allegations are even feasible.”Jayne said Hodges said her boyfriend is addicted to drugs and wants Hodges out of the house.Judge Cathleen Campbell ordered Hodges held on $1,000 cash bail and to stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victim.Hodges is scheduled to return to court Oct. 2.