Press Release  Home Health Aid Arraigned on Assault Charges

Peabody, Massachusetts — A home health aid was arraigned today in Peabody District Court on assault charges related to an alleged confrontation with her 90-year old client.

Sophonie Fidele, 27, was arraigned on assault & battery, assault & battery on a person over 60 and witness intimidation.  She posted $500 cash bail after her arrest yesterday and agreed to home confinement with a GPS monitoring device, to remain alcohol free with screens, to stay away from and have no contact with the victim, and not to work with the elderly population.  She will be in court again on February 7, 2019 for a pre-trial hearing.

Essex Assistant District Attorney Mike Varone told the court that Peabody Police and Firefighters responded to 59 Lynnfield Street for a 911 call as well as an open Life Line where an elderly woman could be heard screaming for help.  First responders found the victim, a 90-year old woman, and the defendant at the home.  The initial investigation found that the victim confronted the defendant about being “under the influence of something,” when the defendant allegedly became angry.  When the victim tried to contact her daughter, the defendant took allegedly the phone out of her hand.  The victim then tried to activate her Life Line Bracelet, the defendant allegedly grabbed her wrist and removed the bracelet.

Investigators found empty bottles of liquor in the defendant’s room and that the commode chair had not been emptied for several days.  Investigators also determined that the defendant is an employee of Family Care Plus out of Connecticut and had been placed as a live-in aid at that address.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Nat Sears for bail purposes only and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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