PEABODY — A letter carrier from Peabody is facing charges of attacking his elderly neighbor Monday night, months after the older man lectured his son about going into his yard.
Myles Tennihan, 49, of 3 Stockton Road pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday in Peabody District Court to charges of assault and battery on a person over 60 with injury, breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, and threatening to commit murder.
Alessio Ventura, 73, whose house is next to Tennihan's, told police he heard a knock at his garage door around 9:45 p.m., and when he opened it, Tennihan forced his way inside and pinned Ventura to the wall by the throat.
Ventura said Tennihan appeared to be drunk and angry about an earlier incident, on Halloween, when Ventura had warned Tennihan's son not to go into his backyard.
Tennihan allegedly threatened to come back and kill the older man if he called police. Ventura called the police anyway.
When officers, who found Tennihan's hat in Ventura's driveway, showed up at Tennihan's home, they heard him say, "Tell them I'm not here."
Moments later, a window opened and Tennihan asked what they wanted.
Tennihan became "combative" with officers, according to a police report. He told the police that Ventura had come to his house earlier in the evening — something Tennihan's wife said was not true.
Court papers say Tennihan is a letter carrier in Waltham.
Tennihan's bail was set at $500 cash, with conditions that include random alcohol testing and no contact with his elderly neighbor.
He's due back in court Feb. 16.
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