Winthrop man held without bail pending dangerousness hearing for domestic assault

BOSTON, July 21, 2026 – A Winthrop man with a history of assault and intimidation charges dating back to 2005 is being held without bail after being arraigned in BMC Central yesterday for domestic assault, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced. 

ANTHONY STOKES, 39, was charged with one count of assault and battery on a family or household member, one count of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, and one count of intimidating a witness, juror, or court official. Judge James Coffey ordered Stokes held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing that will take place July 27. 

Just before 8 a.m. on July 19, Boston police responded to Massachusetts General Hospital at 55 Fruit Street for a domestic violence incident. The victim, a 39-year-old woman, had two swollen eyes, scratch marks on her chest and torso, and bruises on her hands, arms, and chest. Officers learned that a man, later identified as Anthony Stokes, hit her hard in her face while inside his car. She was in extreme pain, and unable to speak with officers.

Officers located the vehicle parked in front of the Emergency Room with Stokes still inside. Stokes said that he and the victim went to an adult entertainment club and, at some point, the victim stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. Stokes said that the victim ran back inside and accused him of letting a group of women physically assault her. Stokes claims there was no physical altercation between him and the victim.

Earlier in the evening, Stokes had been consuming alcohol and drove the victim to the Orient Heights neighborhood in East Boston. Stokes parked the car, yelled at the victim, and struck her in the face. Stokes then drove to Somerset Street in Winthrop, parked the car again, yelled at the victim further and continued to strike her. Eventually, the victim asked Stokes to drive her to the hospital.   

Stokes first drove her to the East Boston Clinic, where he exited the vehicle and went into the hospital with the victim. Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim was instructed to go to Mass General Hospital by staff who offered to call her a rideshare. Stokes insisted on taking her himself and escorted her back to his vehicle. 

During the drive to Mass General, Stokes continued to assault the victim, using his fist to strike her in the face. Once they arrived, Stokes told the victim to remain in the vehicle and to tell hospital staff and police that he was not the perpetrator of her assault, but rather she was attacked by a group of women. The victim entered the emergency room accompanied by a mother and daughter who were unknown to her to separate herself from Stokes.

“The facts here point to a serious, sustained assault that left the victim injured and terrorized, along with being ordered, under extreme duress, to deflect blame from her attacker.  Our office will provide this victim with all the support she requires as this case moves forward,” Hayden said. 

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Our office handles more than 20,000 cases a year. Nearly 160 assistant district attorneys practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Boston and Chelsea Juvenile Courts and the Supreme Judicial Court. Our office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs for anyone encountering the criminal justice system. We are committed to educating the public about our mission and services while focusing on crime prevention to keep the residents, workers and visitors of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications