For Immediate Release August 28, 2008                                          
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Lowell Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Assault of 22-Month-Old Son

LOWELL – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office informed the public today that a Lowell man has pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with the assault of his 22-month-old son on November 17, 2007.

Ty Chan, 26, of Lowell, pled guilty this morning at the Middlesex Superior Courthouse in Lowell on charges of assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury and mayhem.  The Commonwealth requested that Chan be sentenced to 7-10 years in state prison and be placed on 5 years probation following the state prison sentence.  Lowell Superior Court Judge Paul Chernoff ordered Chan sentenced to 2 and 1/2 years in the House of Correction with 18 months to serve.  The balance of the sentence is suspended for five years.  Chan also received 5 years on probation.

“Today’s plea of guilty holds Ty Chan accountable for the disturbing, troubling, and violent acts of abuse against his own child,” District Attorney Leone said.  “Children are our most vulnerable victims and we proudly speak for them and fight for justice on their behalf.”

According to authorities, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, Lowell Police responded to an apartment on Middlesex Street in Lowell for a reported domestic assault. When police arrived, they found the victim wrapped in a blanket and bleeding profusely from his mouth.

The victim was transported to a Lowell hospital and then to a Boston hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Upon further investigation, which included interviews with witnesses at the scene, it was determined that the defendant bit the victim’s lip, severing it in the process.  The defendant admitted to police that he had taken ecstasy and cocaine in the hours leading up to the incident.  

The defendant was transported to Saint’s Medical Center in Lowell. He was arraigned on the district court charges at Saint’s Medical Center on November 19, 2007.  Lowell District Court Judge Neil Walker ordered Chan held on $25,000 cash bail and conditions including that he not have contact with the victim or children under the age of 16. 

Chan was arraigned in Lowell Superior Court on January  12 before Judge Jane Haggerty, who ordered Chan held on $10,000 bail with conditions that he have no contact with his children or any children under 16 and be under 24 hour house arrest except to go to mental health evaluation and treatment appointments.

The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Deborah Bercovitch. The victim witness advocate is Theresa Corcoran.

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