Man Held on $100K For Esplanade Sexual Assault

By Ryan Grannan-Doll

Joseph Barthel, 49, of Waltham, was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail after a court appearance on Monday after he was arrested for sexually assaulting a homeless woman on the Esplanade in Boston, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

State Police patrolling the area of the Longfellow Bridge spotted Barthel in the process of assaulting the alleged victim at around 1 a.m. 

"Massachusetts State Police observed Barthel lying on top of a woman near the Community Boating dock while on patrol about 1:00 on Sunday morning. On closer observation, they observed that the woman was unconscious," a statement from the DA read. 

Charlestown District Court Judge Robert J. McKenna ordered Barthel have no contact with the alleged victim. In a statement, State Police said they do not believe Barthel is connected to a series of prior unsolved assaults in the Esplanade area. 

When troopers arrived, they separated Barthel from the alleged victim and called for an ambulance, according to the DA’s office. Barthel smelled of alcohol, was belligerent with the troopers and misidentified the victim's name. 

The alleged victim told police she was acquainted with Barthel, with whom she been drinking earlier in the day, according to the DA's office. She told police she passed out when Barthel tried to kiss her. 

Barthel, who claimed to live at a shelter in Boston, told police,  “You didn’t see [expletive] and you can’t prove [expletive] either. I beat that rape case and my lawyer will beat this [expletive] case, too," according to the DA's office.

In October 2012, Barthel was charged with the rape of a homeless woman with whom he had consumed alcohol in downtown Boston, according to the DA's office. However, the case was later dropped because police could not locate the victim to participate in a trial. 

Barthel is due back in court on Aug. 2.