MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WJAR) — The manager of a yet-to-open café in Middleborough is being held behind bars, charged with assaulting a worker with disabilities.
Charles El-Helou, 53, of Brockton, appeared in front of a judge in Wareham District Court Monday.
Authorities have accused El-Helou of grabbing the neck of a 25-year-old Freetown man who was working for him to get ready to open Hugs & Yums.
Hugs & Yums is making a point to hire people with special needs.
But Middleborough police said El-Helou didn't pay the alleged victim for two weeks work, until he was confronted by a family member.
Police also said El-Helou tried to get the worker to sign over his truck to him.
El-Helou's lawyer said the accuser's mother didn't come forward until more than two weeks after the alleged assault she apparently witnessed, and had written El-Helou a message after the incident, saying her son enjoyed working there.
“There are a number of things about this case that don't add up,” El-Helou’s lawyer said in court.
Middleborough police, when announcing El-Helou’s arrest, said they believe vulnerable citizens were being taken advantage of.
The licensing of Hugs & Yums was supposed to be on the agenda at the Middleborough board of selectmen meeting Monday night, but it was removed from the agenda following El-Helou's arrest.
Authorities said El-Helou has open court cases on charges including larceny, identity fraud, and receiving stolen property.
The judge ordered El-Helou be held without bail as a result.
El-Helou is due back in court July 12.
NBC 10 News spoke with the family of the accuser. They did not want to comment.