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Home health aid allegedly assaults 90-year-old woman at Peabody home

(File photo)

A home health aid was arraigned Friday after allegedly assaulting a 90-year-old woman at a home in Peabody, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office.

Authorities say police and firefighters responded to Lynnfield Street for a 911 call and an open Life Line where an elderly woman was allegedly heard screaming for help.

First responders found the 90-year-old along with 27-year-old Sophonie Fidele at the home, and an initial investigation shows the victim had confronted Fidele about being "under the influence of something."

Fidele allegedly became angry, and when the 90-year-old tried to get in touch with her daughter, Fidele allegedly took the phone out of her hand.

The victim then tried to activate her Life Line bracelet, and Fidele allegedly grabbed her wrist and removed the bracelet.

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Investigators found empty bottles of alcohol in Fidele's room, and determined she was an employee of Family Care Plus out of Connecticut and had been placed as a live-in aid at the home.

She was arraigned on assault and battery, assault and battery on a person over 60 and witness intimidation.

Fidele posted $500 cash bail after being arrested Thursday, and agreed to home confinement with a GPS monitoring device, and to remain alcohol-free with screens, to stay away from and have no contact with the 90-year-old woman and not to work with the elderly population.

Fidele is expected in court again on February 7 for a pre-trial hearing.