Boston Police Department

South End Sex Assault Suspect Ordered to Undergo Mental Health Evaluation

The sex assault happened at an art gallery in the South End's SoWa Art and Design district, according to police

A Massachusetts man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Boston's South End neighborhood faced a judge on Tuesday.

Twenty-four-year-old Malden resident Anthony Smith-Pacheco was arraigned at Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery. 

Smith-Pacheco was arrested on Monday, according to the Boston Police Department.  Police said the assault happened around 2 p.m. on Sunday at an art gallery on Harrison Avenue in the popular SoWa Art and Design district.

NBC10 Boston is not identifying the gallery out of respect for the victim's privacy, but the owner of the gallery said the victim is doing OK.

The reported assault had members of the community on edge.

"Not something you want to hear in your neighborhood," one resident said of the attack.

Those who live and work in the artist community said they are reviewing their own security procedures.

"Sometimes they’re harmless and sometimes you have to be really on guard," said Tom Stocker, who sells his art out of a nearby studio, which he says is in a very secure building. "But you would think in the middle of the day, in the middle of the afternoon, it would be fine."

Tess Woods works for New England Home Magazine, just a few doors down from where the alleged incident took place. She said she's relieved someone was finally arrested.

"Of course it was very scary to hear. Living in a city with a lot of office buildings, you should be able to walk in and out and walk through streets and not have concerns, so hopefully this is the last of it," Woods said.

After hearing from the court clinician, the judge ordered Pacheco-Smith to undergo a 20-day mental health evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.

A motion for a dangerousness hearing has been filed that will likely be taken up on the next court date which is scheduled for April 18.

Contact Us