State Representative Carlos Henriquez was sentenced today to serve six months in the Middlesex County House of Correction after he was convicted of charges that he assaulted an Arlington woman he was dating in July 2012.
A Cambridge District Court jury convicted Henriquez on two assault and battery charges, but acquitted the Dorchester Democrat of a third assault and battery charge, one count of witness intimidation, and one count of larceny under $250.
The victim, Katherine Gonzalves, testified about the events that unfolded on July 8, 2012, and underwent a rigorous cross-examination by Henriquez’s defense attorney, Stephanie Soriano-Mills.
Following the verdict, Judge Michele Hogan expressed concern that Henriquez was not accepting responsibility for his actions. She told Henriquez from the bench that he should have ended his interactions with Gonzalves early that morning when Gonzalves told him she was not interested in having intimate relations.
“When a woman tells you she doesn’t want to have sex, she doesn’t want to have sex,” Hogan said, adding that she was “very concerned that you’re not remorseful.”
Henriquez was within the bounds of reason (if perhaps at their outer edge) to retain his office while these charges were pending – after all, our system is still “innocent until proven guilty.” But, obviously, as of today that maxim no longer affords Henriquez any comfort. He’s been proven guilty, and he should step down immediately. Period.
I don’t think it is the outer edge of the bounds of reason to keep the seat while the charges are pending, otherwise, much like the endless recall elections out west, the republicans would launch endless lawsuits to force resignations of legally and properly elected democrats if this became the standard.
The few times I met Carlos, I liked him so this makes me sad, but he should resign immediately now with this verdict. I think even if he is considering an appeal, he should resign.
There’s a big difference between a politically motivated civil law suit and a pending criminal prosecution. This guy should have resigned long before trial. Hopefully he’ll resign now so we can avoid having his removal plastered on the front of the Herald for weeks on end.
Wasn’t he still considered innocent until proven guilty?
What Team Blue would really like is that the politicians who will be found guilty to resign, whereas the ones who will be vindicated with an innocent verdict to not resign.
Of course, that takes perfect foresight, but why shouldn’t we ask for the best from our politicians?
… as such would leave any and all politicians in the lurch once in the crosshairs of an accusation. And tho’ a lot of accusations turn out to be true, some don’t, or there are extenuating circumstances, (I’m NOT saying that’s the case here…) or are otherwise flimsy upon inspection… So I don’t think an accusation should be a de fact resignation…
I met Jim Marzilli on a couple of occasions and felt the same way. Unfortunately, both of these men sexually assaulted women and in the case of Carlos it was a physical assault as well. We should have zero tolerance towards violence against women in society and surely within our party.
1) Hold a two hour press conference blaming other people
2) Receive man-crush from the Globe’s Tom Keen
Apparently, you can’t rely on scoundrels and scum to do the right thing when they are found out. Everything is just a crisis to be managed and moved on from.