Protester Charged With Punching Casino Rally Organizer
CHELSEA (CBS) - A casino opponent pleaded not guilty Wednesday to assaulting an organizer at a pro-casino rally in Revere over the weekend.
Charles Lightbody, 53, of Revere, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court on an assault and battery charge.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports
Casino Rally Fight
Prosecutors say he punched 61-year-old Louis Ciarlone twice, breaking Ciarlone's nose during a pro-casino rally Saturday.
Lightbody says Ciarlone was using vulgarity in front of children and had to confront him.
When he did, Lightbody claimed Ciarlone hit him with a sign first, starting the brawl.
Lightbody was released Wednesday on promise to return to court for his next hearing in the case and ordered to stay away from pro-casino organizers.
His lawyer says Lightbody is filing a complaint against Ciarlone.
Lightbody is a property and business owner in Revere. He says the casino issue is personal to him and he doesn't wan't to see one built at Suffolk Downs.
"I'm fighting it by myself here with some family and basically that's it. I don't raise money. I don't push people I just go out there and hold signs and speak my peace," he told WBZ-TV.
There has been no comment from Ciarlone, who is the business manager for IBEW Local 123.
