Construction Office Assault Suspects Indicted

Three men accused of beating and attempting to extort workers at Medford construction office have been indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury.

James Morando, 53, of Swampscott, Timothy Hogan, 44, of Saugus and William Albright, 41, of Salem, were indicted earlier this month by a grand jury in Middlesex County Superior Court on charges stemming from an incident at at NEQ Construction's office on Riverside Avenue on June 19, according to a district attorney spokesperson.

Witnesses who work at NEQ construction's office at 427 Riverside Ave. told police that the men entered the business at about 5:30 p.m., shoved a man aside who tried to greet them, then punched and kicked two other men who worked there and demanded $10,000 in "commission fees."

The three men charged had previously working relationships with the alleged victims, according to police reports.

Morando threatened to kill one of the alleged victims' child, and Hogan held a pen to another victims' eye and forced him to sign paperwork, according to a police report. During the incident, the three men allegedly refused to let the others leave the office.

One of the alleged victims had to be treated at Lawrence Memorial Hospital as result of the beating, police said. In a brief statement to police, Morando said he went to the office seeking money owed to him, but things went "haywire" when one of the alleged victims pulled out a gun.

Each was indicted on three counts of kidnapping, two counts of extortion by threat of injury, three counts of witness intimidation, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and three counts of threatening to commit a crime, according to District Attorney Spokesperson Stephanie Guyotte.

The indictments were handed down Aug. 7; arraignment dates are yet to be set.