WESTFIELD – A city man remains behind bars after being charged with a violent home invasion.
William F. Matthews, 29, of 3 Jefferson St., was held without right to bail due to dangerousness after being arraigned in Westfield District Court Monday on charges of assault & battery on a person over age 60 with injury, assault with dangerous weapon and home invasion.
Allegedly on May 13, Matthews entered the property and residence of the victim at 25 Hickory Avenue, according to court records.
Matthews allegedly knew the victim was home and had armed himself with a brick and a fixed blade knife, according to court records.
Records indicate that Matthews allegedly injured the victim, a female in her 80s, by “physically grabbing her and dragging her on the floor, inducing multiple injuries.”
“While carrying the brick, Matthews placed the victim in fear and told her to come with him because he didn’t want to have to hurt her,” according to the statement of facts.
This same woman was reportedly victimized by her granddaughter on Christmas day.
Shauna A. Morse, 29, of 23 Frederick St., was released on $500 cash after also being arraigned in Westfield District Court Monday. She is charged with felony breaking and entering daytime, larceny over $250, larceny of credit card and malicious destruction of property over $250.
Allegedly Matthews is Morse’s former boyfriend.
Morse allegedly broke into her grandmother’s home at 25 Hickory Avenue during the afternoon of December 25 and stole two safes, which contained in excess of $1,200 cash, multiple credit cards, jewelry and personal documents including a will.
Fingerprints left at the scene were traced back to the defendant using a fingerprint card from a prior booking, according to court records.
There is no information regarding Morse’s previous charges other than court records stating “she has three (3) defaults on her BOP as well as one charge for ‘escape.'”
A warrant for Morse’s arrest was issued on May 5.
In October 2012, Matthews was arrested for assault and battery in a domestic relationship, according to The Westfield News archives.
A pretrial detention/dangerousness hearing is scheduled for May 23 to determine whether Matthews can be safely released on any bail or pretrial conditions while awaiting trial.
Morse is due back in court on July 14 for a pretrial conference.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter @charnoskyWNG
