Dad charged with choking 16-year-old pregnant daughter (Framingham, Massachusetts)

Dad MICHAEL LAFRANCE is charged with assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault and battery after he "allegedly" choked his 16-year-old daughter after "an argument." Seems there is a lot of back story here that's not being told. What's going on with the "men standing outside" who wanted to confront the father on behalf of the girl's apparent boyfriend? And is there a mother in this household? If so, there's no mention of her.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/police_and_fire/x457996391/Dad-charged-with-choking-pregnant-daughter

Dad charged with choking pregnant daughter
By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Apr 27, 2010 @ 12:00 AM

FRAMINGHAM — A Framingham man charged with choking his 16-year-old pregnant daughter was released yesterday without bail.

Michael LaFrance, 40, is charged with assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault and battery after an argument Friday night, police said.

Police say LaFrance put his hands around his daughter, Danielle's, throat and choked her after she got into an argument with her brother over use of the kitchen sink. Danielle is 7 months pregnant, police said.

Police were called to the family's home at 52 C St. about 7:15 p.m. to investigate a report of a group of men standing outside, threatening someone inside.

One of the men told police the group was there to "confront the father of a buddy's girlfriend," according to a report filed in Framingham District Court.

Danielle LaFrance told police she had been arguing with her father all day Friday and was doing dishes before she was attacked. She told police her brother came into the kitchen, the two argued and she splashed water on him.

Their father then came in and grabbed her by the throat for what seemed to be two minutes while he yelled at her, according to the report.

Michael LaFrance told officers he only grabbed his daughter by the chin to yell at her and "tell her to behave."

He was arrested at home Friday night and was held over the weekend. He was arraigned yesterday before Judge Paul Healy Jr. and released on personal recognizance.

The district attorney's office filed a motion to have Michael LaFrance released with conditions that he not abuse the victim, abide by any restraining orders and follow all orders from the state Department of Children and Family Services.

Michael LaFrance is due back for a pretrial conference on June 7.

(Danielle Ameden can be reached at 508-626-4416 or dameden@cnc.com.)