75-year-old claims she was assaulted

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - A 75-year-old Cranston woman alleges a Cranston Housing Authority employee locked her in her office and assaulted her earlier this year in a case that is headed to court in August.

Juanita Matos told Target 12 she went to the Birch Street office of Nora Hawkins on February 6, but Matos claims the conversation with Hawkins turned ugly.

“She (Hawkins) is the one who pushed me in the office and locked the door, “ Matos said. “She was standing in front of the door yelling at me, ‘you better not go near my mother or else’.“

Matos said her attorney did not want her to talk about the case. She did not say why she went to Hawkins' office.

Matos said she sustained a couple of bruises. Matos added that she did not know why Hawkins, 61, of North Kingstown, referred to her mother. The two women said they have known each other for about 50 years.

Simple assault and disorderly conduct charges were filed against Hawkins in May. A court hearing is scheduled for August 22.  

Matos said she was frustrated that it took 3 months for Cranston police to complete their investigation.

"They didn't tell me why," she said.

Hawkins talked with Target 12 briefly over the phone from her Cranston office, saying she is completely innocent.

“It's absolutely absurd. I did not assault her,” Hawkins said.

The fact that the charges are misdemeanors does not sit well with Matos who said she was injured, restrained from leaving Hawkins’ office and threatened.

“I believe this is not a misdemeanor,” Matos said. “It is a felony on an elderly person.”

Hawkins' attorney, James Howe said he would not elaborate on his client’s side of the case but added that he is confident ‘she is innocent’.

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