Somerville Man Pleads Guilty for Assault on Medford Jogger

– Allison Goldsberry

A Somerville man pleaded guilty to assault charges for his role in a random violent attack against a Medford jogger in 2011, according to information released by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Niall Vallega, 20, of Somerville, pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (two counts), and assault and battery.

Vallega was sentenced to a total of five years in prison and five years probation.

“This defendant was one of four young men who violently attacked another man on Medford sidewalk,” District Attorney Ryan said in a statement. “This attack left the victim with very serious injuries. The fact that this attack was completely unprovoked is all the more troubling. I applaud the work of the Medford Police Department to ensure that all of the perpetrators of this attack are held accountable for their actions.”

According to authorities, the victim was randomly attacked while jogging near Salem and Park Streets on St. Patrick’s Day in 2011. Vallega and others drove by the victim, yelling threats, and then two of the perpetrators charged toward the victim, threatening to beat him up. The victim tried to walk away but was confronted by three of the perpetrators. Vallega punched the victim in the eye and the victim was also hit over the head with a glass bottle. Vallega and two others repeatedly attacked the victim and a fourth perpetrator stabbed the him in his side. The victim suffered serious injuries, including a collapsed lung.

Nearby store employees called police after hearing the victim yelling for help. The suspects fled the scene but, based upon evidence, including a GPS location device, cell phone records, and witness accounts, they were identified by police. A Medford police officer was just a few blocks away and was alerted by a witness that a man was being attacked in the area. She arrived on scene quickly and was followed by several other officers. Police set up a perimeter and conducted a K-9 search, which resulted in the collection of a “good amount of evidence and information” that provided police with some “solid leads.” One suspect was arrested a couple of days later and Vallega was arrested in June 2012.