Man Accused in Attack Will Not Offer a Plea

A man facing charges of sexually assaulting a co-worker in Holyoke Center has no plans to enter a plea bargain agreement with the state, his lawyer said yesterday.

"I'm positive that this case will go to trial," said Jose Sanchez, attorney for defendant Edwin A. Cardona, who is pleading not guilty in the case.

"At this point, Mr. Cardona denies all the charges brought against him," Sanchez said.

In mid-December, Cardona was indicated by a Middlesex Superior Court grand jury on charges stemming from an October 24 incident in Holyoke Center. The indictments allege that Cardona, who worked for a company hired to clean the building, sexually assaulted and threatened a fellow employee.

Cardona has now changed jobs, his lawyer said.

Prosecutor Greg Pasquale said a pre-trial conference was completed on Tuesday. The defense will have until February 17 to file motions in the case, he said.

At Cardona's December 27 arraignment, Judge Mel Greenberg set bail at $500. He also ordered Cardona to stay away from the woman involved in the incident.

As the result of a year-end rotation of judges, the case is now before Judge Elizabeth Dolan.

Pasquale and Sanchez said the judge has not yet set a trial date for the case.