Hospital Arraignment for 19-Year-Old Charged in Assault on Child

BOSTON, March 31, 2015— An East Boston teen who police were forced to shoot with a beanbag gun was arraigned in her hospital bed on attempted murder and other charges after she cut the neck and face of a child, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

SANDY CASTILLO (D.O.B. 6/2/96) was arraigned today at Massachusetts General Hospital on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, assault and battery on a family or household member, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a public employee.  Assistant District Attorney Janine D’Amico requested bail of $50,000 and orders that Castillo wear a GPS monitor and stay away and have no contact with the victim and his family in the event she is released on monetary bail.  Judge John McDonald imposed $35,000 bail and ordered the requested conditions of release.

Boston Police were called to a Paris Street apartment shortly before 7:00 p.m. Saturday for a report of a 4-year-old boy who had been stabbed.  Upon their arrival, officers learned that Castillo was barricaded inside a bedroom and had threatened to harm herself.  Officers used a ram to force the door open and observed Castillo holding a knife with a three-inch serrated blade.  After she failed to comply with orders to drop the knife, officers discharged a beanbag gun, striking Castillo and causing her to drop the knife.

Castillo was arrested after a brief but violent struggle.  While being placed in an ambulance for transport to Massachusetts General Hospital, she allegedly became combative and bit a Boston EMT in the upper arm, prosecutors said.

The boy, who suffered non-life threatening lacerations to his neck, face, and wrist, was carried by a family member to the nearby East Boston Health Center prior to the arrival of police.  The victim was then transported to Boston Medical Center; he was released from the hospital yesterday.

Witnesses told police that Castillo became involved in an argument with a 17-year-old resident of the home with whom she’d had a previous relationship.  During the course of the argument, Castillo allegedly slapped and scratched the teen, prompting him to leave the apartment.

Adults in the home then heard screams from a 4-year-old relative and Castillo’s threats to kill the boy, prosecutors said.  The witnesses observed Castillo holding the boy with one arm while using a knife to cut his neck and quickly separated the two.  They told police that Castillo made threats to harm herself and was forced into the bedroom until police arrived.

Castillo was represented by Janet McNab.  She will appear in court April 3.

 

–30–

 

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.