MIDDLETON — A Peabody man is being held without bail following his arrest on charges that he broke into his former girlfriend's home in Middleton early yesterday and attacked her.
During the attack, he bit the woman's nose, a prosecutor said.
Richard Carlan, 38, of 261 Newbury St. pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, domestic assault and battery, and a charge of mayhem (the legal term for intentionally disfiguring someone).
Prosecutor Heidi Sylvanowicz told a Salem District Court judge that police were called to a Riverview Drive home just after 2 a.m. yesterday for a report of a burglary in progress.
They encountered Carlan as he tried to flee. After a struggle involving two officers trying to subdue Carlan, they took him into custody.
Carlan claimed that he and his girlfriend had gotten into a fight after he had been drinking.
But the woman said Carlan was her former boyfriend.
She said she was in bed, where her daughter was also sleeping, and woke up to the sounds of someone trying to break into the home.
Carlan — dressed entirely in camouflage clothing — pounced on her, then began strangling her, she told police. During the attack, he also bit the woman's nose, breaking the skin on both sides, Sylvanowicz told the judge.
Police believe Carlan used a hotel key card, which they found nearby, to jimmy the door lock and break into the home.
The woman has now obtained a restraining order barring any contact with Carlan.
Judge Michael Uhlarik scheduled a dangerousness hearing for May 2.
Courts reporter Julie Manganis may be reached at 978-338-2521 or jmanganis@salemnews.com.
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