BOSTON, June 17, 2013—A Mission Hill man was today on charges he robbed and assaulted a woman at knifepoint early Saturday, and investigators are trying to determine whether he is responsible for a second attack less than an hour later, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

PATRICK BARRY (D.O.B. 5/26/92) was arraigned in Roxbury District Court on charges of armed robbery, assault with intent to rape, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.  Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Riley recommended that Barry be held on $250,000 bail.  Judge David Poole set bail at $30,000.

Boston Police responded to Vancouver Street at approximately 2:00 Saturday morning and found the victim of an armed robbery and attempted sexual assault sitting with a Wentworth University Police officer inside the officer’s cruiser.  The woman was bleeding from cuts to her face, arms, and hands.

Prosecutors said the defendant, armed with a knife, grabbed the victim, took her purse and cell phone, and dragged her to the area of 15 Vancouver St., where he attempted to sexually assault her.  The woman screamed and was able to escape.  She was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Barry has not been charged in connection with a similar attack that occurred less than an hour later.  In that incident, a woman was grabbed from behind as she walked on Huntington Avenue and dragged onto a side street by a man with a knife.  The assailant fled after the woman screamed to attract attention of passersby.  The investigation into both assaults is ongoing.

Barry was identified with the assistance of individuals who contacted investigators after surveillance images were released to the public, prosecutors said.  The witnesses told police that Barry was bleeding from cuts to his face in the early hours of Sunday morning and that he claimed to have sustained when he was confronted by a knife-wielding attacker whom he fought off using his own knife, prosecutors said.

Barry is represented by Carlton Williams.  He is expected to return to court on July 8.

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