Pair Accused Of Tying Girl Up With Jump Rope In Northampton
NORTHAMPTON (AP) — Two homeless people are accused in an attack on a 9-year-old Massachusetts girl that prosecutors say included tying her jump rope around her neck and a tree so she was forced to stand on tiptoe.
Northampton police say the girl had no visible injuries. They don't have a motive.
Thirty-four-year-old Lance Gouvan and 26-year-old Megan Bonny pleaded not guilty Friday to charges including attempted murder, kidnapping and assault. They're being held until a dangerousness hearing Tuesday.
Prosecutors say the girl was jumping rope outside a child services center on Thursday when Bonny told Gouvan to tie her to a tree. Police say he dragged the girl by her hair and hanged her from the tree but she was able to stand on her toes.
A center staffer freed the girl, who identified the suspects.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.