BOSTON, Oct. 12, 2016— A homeless man has been held pending a dangerousness hearing on charges he sexually assaulted two women in their South End home early yesterday morning, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
RONALD BROWN (D.O.B. 3/20/64), who lists the Pine Street Inn as he primary residence, was arraigned today in Boston Municipal Court on one count each of aggravated rape as a subsequent offender, kidnapping, and burglary. Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues, Conley said.
At the request of Ian Polumbaum, chief of the DA’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, Judge Thomas Horgan ordered Brown held without bail pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing under Chapter 276, Section 58A, of the Massachusetts General Laws. The statute allows a judge to hold a defendant accused of certain offenses without bail for up to 120 days pending trial upon “clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person or the community.” That hearing is scheduled to take place Friday.
According to prosecutors, an assailant gained access to a Clarendon Street apartment at approximately 3:45 a.m. yesterday. He bound, threatened, and assaulted both of them. The man left with the victims’ cell phones and other electronics and belongings after forcing the victims to provide passcodes for each device.
Boston Police detectives were provided a description of the attacker, who wore distinctive camouflage pants. They additionally recovered a medication bottle bearing Brown’s name at the scene. Further investigation revealed that Brown was a Level 3 sex offender based a 1985 conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for aggravated rape.
Boston Police detectives assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit spoke with staff at the Pine Street Inn who reported seeing Brown in the hours after the assault wearing the same distinctive clothing as described by the victim.
When approached at the shelter by arresting officers, Brown was carrying a purple backpack. Officers searched the backpack and discovered several items inside, including cell phones, a camera containing the victims’ photos, and papers with the victims’ device logon information, prosecutors said.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone. While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, survivors of sexual violence can also call their local rape crisis center for free and confidential services and to discuss their options. Support is available for all survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they wish to take part in a criminal prosecution. Services by city and town can be found at www.janedoe.org/find_help/search.
In Suffolk County, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical accompaniment and many other free services to victims of rape and sexual assault. Suffolk victim-witness advocates can assist in referrals to BARCC and a wide array of non-profit service providers who can offer additional support and services.
Anne Kelley-McCarthy is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Brown was represented at arraignment by Hassan Williams. He returns to court Friday.
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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
