A Chelsea District Court judge has ordered a Revere man held without bail after a hearing sought by prosecutors demonstrated he was too dangerous to be released pending trial on charges that he slashed his ex-wife’s new partner repeatedly, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

Judge James Wexler found that MARCO BELTRAN (D.O.B. 9/12/65) posed too grave a threat to be released on bail after a two-day proceeding under Ch. 276, Sect. 58A, of the Massachusetts General Laws. Known as a “dangerousness hearing,” the proceeding allows for a defendant to be held without bail for up to three months if prosecutors can provide “clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person or the community.”

“The evidence suggests that this defendant knowingly violated a restraining order, crept into the victim’s home, and attacked him in his own bedroom in the dead of night,” Conley said. “Someone who commits an attack like this has to be taken off the streets – not just for the victim’s protection, not just for the protection of the victim’s partner, but for the safety of the general public.”

During two days of testimony on July 9 and 14, Assistant District Attorney Barrett Hyde demonstrated that Beltran made his way into the residence of his ex-wife’s new partner and hid in the bedroom late on the night of July 5. When the victim and his girlfriend entered, Beltran allegedly produced a razor or similar sharp, bladed implement and slashed the victim several times before fleeing.

“This was a deliberate, planned attack,” Conley said. “That it targeted someone other than the defendant’s ex-partner doesn’t make it any less a crime of domestic violence.”

The victim sustained five slash wounds to his forehead, shoulder, back, neck, and torso. Though serious, the injuries are not life-threatening and the victim was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Chelsea Police responded to the scene moments after the attack. After ascertaining the suspect’s identity, they notified all department personnel and the police departments of neighboring cities and towns that Beltran was at large. Shortly thereafter, Revere Police found Beltran’s Chevrolet Silverado parked on Malden Street and, minutes later, took him into custody. Chelsea Police took custody of him and transported him back to Chelsea Police headquarters. Beltran has been held without bail since that time.

Tessa Hammer is the DA’s victim-witness advocate assigned to the case. The defendant is represented by attorney Marcy Levington. The case will return to court on Aug. 2.

Victims of domestic violence or their loved ones should call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide domestic violence hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020.