TWO PLEAD GUILTY IN CHELSEA INTIMIDATION CASE April 3, 2008 A Chelsea man was sentenced to five years in state prison yesterday for beating an acquaintance when she suggested that witnesses to a crime contact local police, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. DOMINGOS COELHO, 24 (D.O.B. 1/8/84), and his girlfriend, LEANN DELLECESE, 25 (D.O.B. 3/2/83), both pleaded guilty to charges of witness intimidation in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday, with Coelho admitting to additional charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. Upon release from his prison sentence, Coelho was ordered to serve three years of probation during which time he must have no contact with the victim or other witnesses, remain drug and alcohol free, submit to random drug testing, undertake a state-certified fatherhood program, and maintain full-time education or employment. Dellecese was sentenced to two years of probation with similar conditions – in addition to staying drug free and having no contact with the victim or witnesses, she must undertake a motherhood program and receive mental health counseling. Had the case proceeded to trial, Assistant District Attorney Stacie Moeser of Conley’s Major Felony Bureau would have introduced evidence and testimony proving that Coelho and Dellecese were present in Dellecese’s Cottage Street residence on June 22, 2007, when several Chelsea residents were discussing a recent crime. When one area resident, a 28-year-old female, suggested that they contact police, Coelho threatened her and hit her with the butt of a shotgun he had retrieved from Dellecese’s room. Chelsea Police responded to the hospital where that victim sought treatment. She identified Coelho as her assailant, and Coelho was promptly taken into custody. In the days that followed, Dellecese called the woman’s cell phone and left messages threatening her with harm if she cooperated with police. Dellecese, too, was taken into custody. “Witness intimidation strikes at the heart of our ability to prosecute violent crime,” Conley said. “We will seek state prison time for anyone who uses violence to stymie our investigations, and we will not rest until the offenders are held to account for their actions.” Coelho was represented by attorney John Tardiff and Dellecese by attorney Pam Harris-Daly. Return to the Press Releases page.