Male lawyer pleads not guilty to assaulting female attorney during bear hug in Mass. court
By APThursday, September 17, 2009
Mass. lawyer pleads not guilty to bear-hug assault
WOBURN, Mass. — A male defense lawyer has pleaded not guilty to assault and battery charges after bear-hugging a female attorney inside the Massachusetts courthouse where both worked.
Robert LeBlanc was ordered Wednesday to refrain from “avoidable and intentional” contact with attorney Pamela Saia-Rogers. Both practice in Lawrence District Court, about 30 miles north of Boston.
According to a police report, 64-year-old LeBlanc grabbed 39-year-old Saia-Rogers from behind, “wrapped his arms around her midsection just below her breast and pulled her tightly to him pressing his pelvis against her backside” in a bear hug.
LeBlanc’s attorney, Max Stern, said LeBlanc merely gave Saia-Rogers a three-second bear hug and said, “My favorite Republican.”
A pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 2.
Information from: Eagle Tribune, www.eagletribune.com
