UPDATED: Stoneham Man Arraigned on Attempted Murder Charge for Allegedly Strangling Woman

A Stoneham man was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn Thursday morning on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery and making threats against a woman, according to a press statement issued by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone Thursday.

Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered Stacey Jones, 35, held pending a dangerousness hearing slated for Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. in courtroom 630, according to the statement.

Jones was indicted on Jan. 21 by a Middlesex County grand jury on charges on the aforementioned charges.

“We allege that this defendant threw the victim to the ground, and attempted to strangle her with the intention of killing her in her own home, all while the victim’s young child was asleep in the house,” Leone said in the statement. “We must all continue to work in every way that we can to prevent domestic abuse while also serving and protecting victims. If someone finds themselves in an abusive and controlling relationship, we hope that they will reach out for help and disclose the abuse, beginning the process of extricating themselves from that violent situation. We commend the victim in this case for coming forward and exposing this defendant’s illegal abusive behavior.”

According to police, Jones, who was known to the victim, arrived at the victim’s residence in Stoneham on Dec. 19, 2011 at about 10:30 p.m., according to the statement.

"The victim asked the defendant to leave and it is alleged that the defendant then grabbed the victim by her throat and threw her to the ground," read the statement. "Authorities allege that the defendant climbed on top of the victim and began to strangle her with his hand. It is further alleged that while strangling her, the defendant used his other hand to smother her face and shove his fingers in her eyes and mouth.

"At one point during the assault, the defendant allegedly stopped strangling the victim and told her that he was going to kill her and then continued to strangle her again."

Jones eventually stopped strangling the victim and left the residence. The victim immediately called 911, according to the statement. The assault is believed to have taken place while the victim’s three-year-old child was asleep in the residence, read the statement.

arrested Jones shortly after the incident allegedly occurred, according to the statement.

Jones was arraigned in Woburn District Court Dec. 20, 2011, and Judge Paul Yee ordered him held pending a dangerousness hearing, read the statement.

On Jan. 3, Judge Gailey determined that the Jones would be released with the conditions that he refrains from the use of alcohol, is subject to random screenings, ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victim or where the victim works, ordered to abide by all restraining orders, and ordered not to possess any dangerous weapons, read the statement.

Jones was released on those conditions on Jan. 4, according to the statement. Later that day, the defendant violated his conditions and was arrested. On Jan. 5, Judge Marianne Hinkle revoked the defendant’s bail, according to the statement.

Assistant District Attorney Marisa Tagliareni is the prosecutor for the case, and the Victim Witness Advocate is Danielle DeMeo. 

This case was investigated by Stoneham Police.