Prisoner punches accused child molester

8-9-2010 Massachusetts:

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) - A prisoner, already facing burglary charges, is now charged with assault and battery after he attacked a suspected child molester during a hearing inside New Bedford District Court.

William E. Reed, 43, of New Bedford was in court Thursday to face burglary charges when he punched John Messieri, 24, in the face, said Gregg Miliote, spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

Messieri is accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend's 7-year-old daughter in Fairhaven. He was hearing the charges against him when the assault happened.

Court officers then jumped in to separate the prisoners, Miliote said.

The judge revoked Reed's bail from a prior burglary case. He will spend the next 60 days in prison. After that, Reed will held on $5,000 for the assault charge.

As for Messieri, Fairhaven police arrested him last week, after the mother of his alleged victim told investigators she saw her boyfriend molesting her daughter.

She told police she asked Messieri to tuck the girl into bed and then walked in during the alleged act.

The child then told investigators Messieri had touched her inappropriately on several occasions, even though she said no.

The judge ordered Messieri held on $50,000 and revoked bail from a previous charge of driving with a suspended license, Miliote confirmed.

He's due back in court Sept. 1. ..Source.. by Nancy Krause

Men accused of beating reported rapist are released

6-1-2010 Washington:

King County prosecutors did not file charges against two men suspected in the revenge beating of a reported rapist and instead released them from jail last week. Meanwhile, Issaquah police continue to investigate the May 23 incident.

Police said the men beat the suspect — a 31-year-old Kirkland man — with a brick and a rubber mallet after acquaintances said he raped a Bellevue woman at a residence in the 400 block of Northeast Birch Street.

Officers later recovered the broken, bloodstained mallet outside the house but could not locate the brick, court documents state.

Meanwhile, the reported rapist remained in serious condition — and in a coma for at least part of last week — at the Harborview Medical Center intensive-care unit. Police had been unable to interview the man due to the extent of his injures.

Charges against the rape suspect also remained pending until he recovered enough to be interviewed by investigators.

Police said the incident occurred after a night at a downtown Issaquah bar.