A Chelsea man charged with severely beating and torturing his pregnant wife over a five-day period in April was arraigned today in Suffolk Superior Court and ordered held without bail under a Massachusetts statute that allows for certain dangerous persons to be held prior to trial, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JOSE JOBSON (D.O.B. 5/31/83) pleaded not guilty to nine counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five counts of aggravated assault and battery, and one count each of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, armed assault with intent to murder, kidnapping, reckless endangerment to children, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm for a series of violent incidents that culminated with his arrest on April 18.

Noting that Jobson “is not only a danger to the victims of the pending case, but to the community as a whole,” Assistant District Attorney Julie Higgins requested that Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Connie Wong order the defendant held without bail under Ch. 276, Sect. 58A, of the Massachusetts General Laws. Under the statute, a trial is required to happen within a 90-day period, unless the defendant requests additional preparation time. Higgins told the court that she was prepared to take the case to trial within the time allotted in accordance with the statute.

Higgins told the court that the 23-year-old victim was eight months pregnant with the defendant’s child when she was beaten over a five-day period in the Chelsea home where the couple lived with their three children.

The beating was preceded by an argument, during which the defendant accused his wife of cheating on him, Higgins told the court.

“He responded with violence,” she said.

Higgins told the court that Jobson hit and punched his wife about the face and body, burned her with boiling water and hot oil causing second-degree burns on her body, and slashed her with knives and razors.

On April 18, Higgins said, Jobson forced his wife and children into his car and drove them to the Dorchester home of a mutual acquaintance. Upon seeing the victim’s very serious injuries, a witness in the home called for an ambulance. While they were in the home, Higgins said, “the defendant presented a gun and aimed it at the victim.” When the witness shielded the victim from the defendant with her body, Jobson then pointed the .22 caliber firearm at the witness and one of her family members, before taking his three children and fleeing the scene in his sport utility vehicle, Higgins said. As he left, Higgins told the court, he allegedly told the witnesses, “Before the police take my girls, I will kill them.”

A description of the defendant’s vehicle was broadcast to Boston Police officers, and police detectives assigned to Area B-3 observed the suspect’s car in the area of Harvard and Glenway Streets. Officers pursued Jobson to Hazelwood Court, where Jobson got out of his car and began to struggle with officers and detectives. Higgins told the court that, “it took four to six police officers to gain control over him,” and noted that he strangled a detective and assaulted several other police officers, causing injuries. Police officers recovered a loaded .22 caliber Phoenix Arms handgun loaded with eight rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber from the defendant’s vehicle.

Higgins told the court that after being taken into custody Jobson made statements to authorities saying, “I killed my wife.”

The three children Jobson had taken in his car were also transported to the hospital for review. They were physically unharmed and were later released to a relative.

The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where she was treated in the intensive care unit for her wounds. Due to the extent of her injuries, doctors were forced to induce labor. She gave birth to a baby girl who was reported to be in good health.

Jobson is represented by attorney Kelli Porges. He is expected to return to court on August 11.