Waltham Sex Offender in Big Trouble

A 46-year-old Waltham sex offender is under arrest after police say he assaulted two women in public on Monday.

Robert Lamothe, 46, of 38 Cedar St., was arrested Monday and charged with attempted murder by strangulation, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 (grabbing a breast), assault and battery on two women, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (pavement).

LaMothe is a Level 3 sex offender whose record stems back to 1989. He was previously convicted of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in 1989 and for the same charges in 1992, according to the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry. In 1997, Lamothe was convicted of rape and indecent assault and battery on a mentally retarded person.

Waltham police say the latest incident began at around 6:44 p.m. on the Charles River walk near 130 River St. when Lamothe was hanging out with three women he knew, according to Waltham Police Sgt. Tim King. Lamothe allegedly began making sexual advances at one of the women and grabbed her breast, according to King. The woman declined the advance, King said.

Then, another woman intervened and told LaMothe to leave the trio alone, King said. In response, LaMothe allegedly grabbed the woman and threw her to the ground, striking her head on the pavement, King said. Lamothe also began strangling the woman, but then stopped and walked away momentarily, King said. LaMothe returned and strangled the woman again.

The third women then confronted LaMothe, but he allegedly punched her, causing her to fall. He then stepped away again but returned and punched the woman again, according to King. LaMothe then fled the area on his bike, King said.

Police responded to the trio’s 911 call and began searching the area for LaMothe but were unable to locate him. They later obtained an arrest warrant for him and LaMothe turned himself in to Waltham police on Sept. 10, according to King.

The woman who was allegedly strangled was treated for her injuries at the scene, while the two other women had only minor injuries, King said.