Steven Dana (left) stands beside his attorney, David Grimaldi, during Monday’s arraignment in Middlesex Superior Court for attempted murder and other charges. PHOTO/NICK SCHOFIELD
Hopkinton resident Steven Dana pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges Monday in Middlesex Superior Court for an altercation that occurred in June at Sandy Beach.
Dana was at the superior court in Woburn following the results of a grand jury hearing in September. The grand jury indicted him on attempted murder, strangulation/suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. The third charge was downgraded from felony assault and battery on a disabled person.
The charges relate to an incident that took place at Sandy Beach in June between Dana and 21-year-old Matthew Duffy of Milford. Dana was arrested after he engaged in a physical altercation with Duffy, allegedly strangling the young man and holding him under the water before being pulled off Duffy by others. The dispute between Dana and Duffy reportedly was over the use of Sandy Beach by the 21-year-old and his friends, who were not Hopkinton residents.
The 70-year-old was charged with felony assault and battery by the Hopkinton Police Department because Duffy was using crutches at the time of the incident.
Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan presided over Monday’s superior court arraignment. Assistant Middlesex County district attorney Daniel Bolcun requested that Dana’s bail and conditions of release be transferred from the district court level to the superior court.
Dana was let out on $7,500 bail in June following a dangerousness hearing after a district court judge determined the defendant was not a danger to the community. The conditions for release included that Dana stay away from Sandy Beach, be banned from possessing firearms and to have no contact with Duffy or any of the other witnesses.
“These are … very serious allegations, your honor,” Bolcun said to Sullivan. “We feel the bail and conditions set by the district court are appropriate.”
Dana and his attorney, David Grimaldi, offered no opposition to the transfer. Both the DA and Grimaldi asked for a scheduling hearing on Nov. 9 and a pretrial hearing to be set for Dec. 11. Sullivan agreed to both.
It’s not alleged when there’s a video of it
7500 bail and release after he tried to strangle and drown someone?! If the bail sets the tone for what’s to come, the so-called justice system will be going easy on him. Prediction: either he’ll get probation or less than 2 years in jail.