WCAC

 

A Ugandan man accused of assaulting his pregnant fiancée was arrested by federal immigration officials in late January after he was charged and released in Waltham. 

In early January, Gedeion Masunsu, 28, of Waltham, was arrested by Waltham Police and charged with punching the alleged victim during two separate incidents and destroying her cell phone.

The woman was three months pregnant at the time, according to court records.

“Not only is Gedeion Masunsu in this country illegally, he savagely assaulted a pregnant Massachusetts resident, endangering the victim and her unborn child,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde last week.

Domestic Violence Allegations

Waltham Police responded on January 6 to an apartment complex on Lexington Street, according to Waltham District Court documents.

A woman called 911 after her fiancé had allegedly assaulted her. 

 

An ongoing quarrel grew out of her suspicion that Masunsu was using a phone she bought for him to text other women, the pregnant woman told officers.

She said the implication angered Masunsu, who smashed the $400 Samsung phone on the ground, then submerged it in water. 

He then allegedly grabbed her shoulder and punched her in the left side of her head. A photo shown to officers revealed a swollen and red left eye, said court documents.

The alleged victim’s children, who attend Waltham schools, were present at the time of the first incident.

During a subsequent incident two days later, Masunsu allegedly punched her in the left shoulder, prompting her to call 911 and seek a restraining order.

 

When questioned by Waltham Police, Masunsu denied all the allegations. 

He was arrested and arraigned in Waltham District Court on two counts of assault and battery on a pregnant victim, two counts of assault and battery on a family/household member and one count of destruction of property under $1,200.

“In this country illegally”

Waltham District Court Judge Ellen Caulo released Gedeion Masunsu on personal recognizance with a number of conditions, including that he stay away from the victim and her residence and have no contact, according to court records. 

“ICE lodged an immigration detainer later that day against Masunsu with the Waltham District Court, which failed to honor the detainer,” said ICE Boston.

Federal immigration officers then arrested him on January 25 in Waltham.

 

“We will not tolerate such acts of violence against the members of our New England communities. ICE stands firm in our commitment to prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing alien offenders from our streets,” said Patricia H. Hyde of ICE Boston.

ICE Boston said the Ugandan attempted to enter the country via Logan Airport on April 14, 2021, using an expired visa.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued him an order of expedited removal and paroled him into the U.S.

As of March 20, Masunsu remains in federal custody after his arrest in Waltham. ICE Boston could not be reached for further comment on his status.