A Medford man faces charges following accusations of sexually assaulting an 88-year-old woman with dementia. District Attorney Kevin Hayden reported that 66-year-old Edwin Lam was charged on August 19 with eight counts of indecent assault and battery on an individual over 60 and disabled. The alleged incidents were recorded by Ring camera surveillance at the victim's Chelsea residence, which Lam frequently drove her to and from for care at the Joyful Living Center Adult Day Health in Charlestown.
The bail for Lam was set at $7,500 by Judge Jane Prince in Chelsea District Court, and he was ordered to not to engage in any ride-share employment, remain in Massachusetts, and comply with wearing a GPS monitoring device. An exclusion zone is in place, prohibiting him from entering the vicinity of the victim's home. According to the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, these measures were taken as part of the conditions for his release.
The surveillance footage, which spans incidents from May 20 to July 11, purportedly shows Lam touching the elderly woman inappropriately on multiple occasions. Specific acts depicted include groping her breasts and groin area and coercing her hand onto his crotch. It was only after a relative witnessed the victim in distress and checked the footage that authorities were alerted to the situation, resulting in a summons for Lam.
In a statement, DA Hayden highlighted the crucial role that video evidence is expected to play in this case. "We live in an era of widespread commercial and domestic video surveillance, which when used judiciously and appropriately can be a tremendous asset to investigators," Hayden said. "But even the best surveillance must be noticed and then brought to the attention of diligent investigators. Fortunately, both of those factors happened here. And it’s particularly fortunate because this is a case where the victim was unable to communicate what was happening to her"
Resources for victims of domestic or sexual violence include SafeLink, a DV hotline, available at 877-785-2020, and RAINN, which can be reached at 800-656-4673. For LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing violence, The Network/La Red is accessible at 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901. Details of the case continue to unfold as Lam is set to return to court for a probable cause hearing on October 17.
