Massachusetts man accused of raping woman, threatening to report her to ICE
A Chelsea man is accused of raping a woman at knifepoint and then threatening to report her to ICE if she contacted police, according to officials.
Alfredo Romero-Cortez, 48, was arrested and charged with aggravated rape, assault and battery on a household member, assault with a dangerous weapon, and intimidating a witness.
Chelsea Police responded Saturday afternoon to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Police officers spoke to the 35-year-old alleged victim who told them she had been assaulted and raped by Romero-Cortez on July 4.
She told police that she and Romero-Cortez were about to have consensual sex when Romero-Cortez reportedly became angry because she said he needed to wear a condom.
“The victim said Romero-Cortez slapped her three times in the face, pulled her by her arm, and then produced a cream-colored pocketknife,” the Suffolk DA’s office wrote. “She said Romero-Cortez told her she ‘better do what he says’ while threatening her with the knife. She told police Romero-Cortez then raped her.”
She told police that she wanted to report the assault, but that Romero-Cortez allegedly told her he would report her to ICE if she did.
She said she feared being separated from her young daughter, so she did not contact police. She then left Romero-Cortez’s Hooper Street apartment.
The next morning, she went to work but left early because she didn’t feel well. She went to the hospital for treatment, and told a nurse about the incident.
The hospital then contacted Chelsea Police.
Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden praised the hospital for alerting authorities “on behalf of a victim too frightened—and understandably so—to take such action herself.”
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“The facts here are troubling on numerous levels, certainly with the physical harm the victim suffered in the assault along with her reluctance to report because of the threats about ICE and her fear of separation from her child,” Hayden added. “This is the type of combined anguish no one should have to experience.”
The judge during the arraignment ordered Romero-Cortez held without bail pending a July 14 dangerousness hearing.
