ORANGE — The Orange man who police say entered the home of a 71-year-old woman and repeatedly stabbed and punched her on Monday has been sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaluations regarding his competency and criminal responsibility.
James Gonzalez, 29, of Prentiss Street, appeared in Orange District Court on Tuesday to be arraigned for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 or older, armed assault to murder a person 60 or older, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery on a person 60 or older, and two counts of assault and battery with dangerous weapon, according to a press release from Northwestern District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Mary Carey.
Gonzalez was not physically present for his arraignment, however, due to concerns about COVID-19 and questions related to Gonzalez’s competency.
At the arraignment, First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne said, the state filed a motion to have the defendant held without the right to bail.
“We contend that he is too dangerous to release prior to trial,” Gagne said, adding that the court ordinarily conducts a hearing on this type of motion at the arraignment or within a few days. “However, in this case, because the defendant was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a competency and criminal responsibility evaluation, the court took no action on our … motion. Instead, our right to argue for the defendant’s detention under that statute is preserved and we will have the opportunity to argue it once the defendant is returned from Bridgewater.”
Gagne mentioned, however, there is a possibility Gonzalez remains at Bridgewater State Hospital if it is found that he is not competent to stand trial or is otherwise in need of the specialized services provided there.
“If he is returned to court but is deemed not competent to stand trial, there will still be the question of whether he remains held or gets released on bail,” Gagne wrote in an email to the Greenfield Recorder. “Obviously, before proceeding to trial, he would have to be found competent. Since competency can change over time, he may end up getting evaluated several times during the course of this case. If he is never found competent, the case cannot proceed to trial.”
The next court date for a status update is Feb. 12, according to Carey.
Orange Police Chief James Sullivan said Gonzalez’s motive is unclear, but investigators believe the reported assault was a targeted attack and that there is no danger to the public at this time. Carey confirmed that Gonzalez and the victim knew each other.
Sullivan said officers responded to Sunset Drive for a reported stabbing at 3:40 p.m. on Monday and found two injured people. During an initial investigation conducted by Orange police officers and State Police detectives assigned to the Northwest District Attorney’s Office, it was learned Gonzalez had entered the woman’s home and allegedly stabbed and punched her repeatedly. The attack reportedly continued until the woman’s 15-year-old grandson fended off Gonzalez and got him out of the home.
Gonzalez injured his hand in the scuffle and was immediately arrested before being taken to Athol Hospital by the Orange Fire Department. Sullivan said the woman was transported by Orange Fire and then airlifted to the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Gagne said Wednesday he has been told the victim is doing well, but remains hospitalized.
Gagne said Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber is prosecuting the case.