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Cape Cod Judge Charged With Domestic Assault Faces June Arraignment
Robert A. Welsh III, first justice of Orleans District Court, was charged with assault and battery on a household member and assault with a dangerous weapon. The alleged incident occurred in January in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
May 19, 1:14 PM·1m read1 source
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A Cape Cod judge has been charged with domestic assault after an alleged January incident in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Robert A. Welsh III, 60, the first justice of Orleans District Court, faces charges of assault and battery on a household or family member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person aged 60 or over.
The redacted State Police report was filed Monday in Brighton Municipal Court. Welsh is scheduled for arraignment on June 11. He was placed on administrative duties on May 11 and is not in custody.
According to the report, the woman told investigators that Welsh had assaulted her in Las Vegas in May 2021 and again in Sandwich in January. During the Sandwich incident, she said Welsh grabbed her arm so tightly that she bit him to loosen his grip and that he kicked her in the groin area, leaving bruising and swelling that she photographed.
The woman also told authorities that Welsh repeatedly said he was "untouchable" because he was a judge. She described him as a heavy drinker who became more easily aggravated when drinking and who often showed up to work hungover.
County prosecutors are handling the case to avoid conflicts of interest. Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois contacted State Police Detective Lieutenant Kevin P. MacDermott on May 4 to arrange a meeting with the woman, which took place on May 6.
Welsh's lawyer declined to comment on Tuesday. The Las Vegas Police Department responded to the 2021 incident but the woman did not file charges at that time.
