NASHUA – Giovanni Flores faces numerous charges accusing him of stalking, attacking and assaulting a woman in the early hours of Aug. 18, but his attorney said Monday that he appears in court when scheduled, is not a risk of flight and has ties to the community, including the several members of his family who attended Flores’ evidentiary bail hearing in Superior Court.

Attorney Mark Osborne asked a judge to consider modifying Flores’ bail, rather than continue to house him in jail on preventive detention as his case moves forward.

Also, Osborne said, Flores had been seeking mental health treatment just before the August incident, and continues to pursue it while in jail.

“Everyone wants to see Giovanni get better, to get to where he belongs,” Osborne said. If he is released, he can reapply for his job, which his employer supports,” he added.

But the allegations paint a clear picture of a serious spate of violence that left the alleged victim “crying hysterically” and “in fear for her life,” and modifying Flores’s bail should not be a consideration, Assistant County Attorney Lin Li, the prosecutor, told the court.

Flores “presents a danger to the community, especially to (the alleged victim) … not only did he blatantly ignore the CBPO (criminal bail protective order) and show up at her home, he showed up in a rage,” Li said, referring to the order prohibiting Flores from having any contact with the alleged victim.

“The violence escalated … she had to lock herself in a bathroom to get away from him,” Li added.

Judge Charles Temple ultimately agreed with Li, denying Flores’ request for bail modification.

“In consideration of the offer of proof and the (alleged violation of) the CBPO, preventive detention must stand,” Temple said. The offer of proof is a synopsis of the allegations that Li read earlier in the hearing.

“The circumstances show … you are a danger to yourself and others, particularly in light of the (alleged violation of) the CBPO,” Temple added. “It is necessary to keep you in preventive detention.”

Temple told Osborne that if Flores is seeking mental health treatment in jail “he should be getting it … if he’s not getting it, I want to know,” he said.

Flores, 21, of 9 Belknap Terrace, was arrested without incident shortly after police arrived at the alleged victim’s residence in August.

He was ultimately charged with 13 offenses, including a felony count of second-degree assault. The others, all Class A misdemeanors, include five counts of criminal mischief; two counts of domestic violence – simple assault; two counts of stalking; and one count each of breach of bail and obstructing the report of a crime.

The alleged victim, who attended Monday’s hearing, became emotional at times during the proceedings. She sat in the front row accompanied by a victim advocate, a woman believed to be a family member, and three Hudson police officers.

Allegations in police reports and court documents accuse Flores of “lying in wait” for the woman outside her residence. When she arrived and walked toward the house, he allegedly grabbed her.

In the ensuing struggle, Flores allegedly took her keys and tore her clothing. She told police she yelled for help as Flores allegedly broke the screen door “and forced her inside.” He allegedly grabbed her cellphone and was “trying to gain access” to it as the woman “kept screaming for help,” according to police reports.

He allegedly covered her mouth, grabbed her arm and took her upstairs, where she tried to get to a window to call for help, but Flores allegedly stopped her, police said.

She picked up the “landline” phone to call 911, but Flores “took the phone … threw it at her bedroom door and threw her cell phone at a wall,” police said.

The woman told police she then grabbed the cellphone and ran downstairs with Flores in pursuit, and locked herself in a bathroom. Flores allegedly smashed a table lamp then threatened to break down the bathroom door, but the woman said she was then able to call 911.

She said Flores fled at that point, but when police arrived they went to his residence, located him and took him into custody.

Li, the prosecutor, said that while arresting Flores, an officer asked him if he knew about the criminal bail protective order against him.

“Yeah, I know,” he said, according to Li.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com, or @Telegraph_DeanS.