Laconia man charged with beating, choking his girlfriend held on $60,000 cash bail

LACONIA – A man who apparently has addresses in Nashua and Laconia is being held on $60,000 cash or corporate surety after allegedly beating and choking his girlfriend on two separate occasions earlier this month.

Police affidavits obtained from the 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division, yesterday said Roberto Nieves, 28, began arguing with his girlfriend around 3 p.m. on New Years Day. She told police when she went to leave, he grabbed her by the inside of her arms and pinned her to the wall.

She told the police he grabbed and squeezed her face while he was "smacking her" and telling her she wasn't allowed to leave. She told the officer that he only stopped squeezing her face when he thought he had broken her jaw.

The victim said he calmed down for a while, but at 9 p.m. two of her female friends came to the house and during that time the two had a second argument when Nieves told her friends they had to leave.

When she tried to leave with them, he allegedly went outside and told her she wasn't allowed to leave. One of her friends was able to distract him, and the alleged victim jumped in the car. Nieves allegedly jumped on the back of the car and started pounding on the rear window with his fist.

The victim went to police the next day and her two friends corroborated her story.

That same day, police also went to where the victim was staying to get evidence about an assault on Dec. 31. She said while she was cooking dinner, they began arguing and he grabbed her again by the jaw.

She said when he felt she was ignoring him, Nieves allegedly picked her up and threw her against a wall. She said he started squeezing her throat and when she didn't look at him, he alleged grabbed a large kitchen knife and pressed the blade to her chin.

The alleged victim said at some point he calmed down.

During her interview with police on Jan. 2, she said she was "extremely fearful" of Nieves and alleged he had assaulted her a number of times in the past including throwing her down the stairs. Police said the alleged victim had different colored bruises on her arms, legs, face and torso indicting multiple assaults and different times.

During the investigation, Laconia Police determined Nieves, who also goes by the name Roberto Roig, may be an alias and that he has ties to Nashua. The alleged victim told police that Nieves is a member of the Latin Kings and Nashua Police confirmed that to Laconia. In court yesterday, Nieves denied being a member of any gangs.

After obtaining warrants for his arrest, city police were able to get his phone number and contacted him multiple times on Jan. 2, but Nieves said he wouldn't turn himself in and refused to give them his current location.

He is facing one felony count of second-degree assault, five counts of simple assaults, one count of misdemeanor false imprisonment, and one disorderly conduct violation.

Nashua Police arrested him on Jan. 10 and Laconia Police brought him to the Belknap County House of Corrections.

In arguing for $50,000 cash-bail, City Prosecutor Jim Sawyer said yesterday that Nieves has multiple convictions, including two convictions for robbery, two convictions for second-degree assault, and three convictions for fraudulent use of a credit card.

Arguing for $2,500 cash bail, Nieves' public defender said Nieves allegedly has a job working with Dawson's Concrete that he can keep if he is freed. His attorney added that he had some issues with the truthfulness of the alleged victim because complaints have been made before, but the restraining orders have been dropped by her.

If Nieves posts cash or corporate surety, he said he will agree to a no contact order and live with his sister in Nashua.