SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Local News

February 9, 2010

Man charged in domestic on 1st night in home

SALEM — Richard Martineau and his girlfriend spent barely one night in the apartment they moved into on Saturday.

Now, Martineau, 38, of 8 Saunders St., will spend at least the next three nights at Middleton Jail, charged with domestic assault and battery and improperly storing a shotgun.

Prosecutors are seeking to hold Martineau without bail as a dangerous person until his trial.

Police say Martineau went on a drunken rampage inside the apartment early Sunday, breaking a table and slamming walls, and then tried to leave with the car keys. His girlfriend, concerned that he was about to drive drunk, tried to stop him by grabbing his shirt, only to end up being struck by Martineau, prosecutor Honor Segal told the judge.

When police showed up, they found Martineau in the foyer of the house and the woman sitting on the floor of her new apartment, crying, Segal said.

She told police that Martineau is "extremely jealous" and had been abusive in the past, according to the prosecutor.

Police found a 12-gauge shotgun in the apartment; and while Martineau is licensed to own the gun, police said he had not properly stored it, leading to the improper storage charge.

Defense lawyer Stephen O'Malley argued that the request for a dangerousness hearing is not justified and said there's no allegation he used the shotgun during the dispute.

"He tells me she's going to come to court and say he never touched her," O'Malley said as his client, standing next to him in a courtroom holding area, nodded.

Salem District Court Judge Richard Mori was not persuaded, however, and granted Segal's motion to keep Martineau locked up at least until a hearing Thursday to determine whether he is a danger.

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