Marblehead Teen Held For Alleged Attack at Phillips Park

A judge ordered a Marblehead teen held on $17,500 cash bail in Lynn District Court Tuesday for his role in an alleged armed robbery at Sunday night.

John Michael Murray, 18, of 54 Glendale Road, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon (wooden board) and assault and battery.

Murray's co-defendants were Bradley Conrad, 18, of 53 Cloutmans Lane, Marblehead; Christopher LeClerc, 18, of 2 Berkshire St., Swampscott and Fiorenzo Lecce, 19, of 317 Paradise Road, Swampscott;

LeClerc and Lecce were ordered released on their own personal recognizance. Conrad's bail was set at $1,500 cash and he was ordered held until his pretrial conference next month because he was already out on bail for three prior arrests.

When officers arrived, a group of five teens said LeClerc, Lecce, Conrad and Murray confronted them when they finished a game of basketball.

Murray was the one who instigated the confrontation, according to police.

One of the alleged victims told police that Murray, armed with a 2x4, approached him and stole a $20 bill from his hand and when he asked for it back, Conrad, who was reportedly armed with a lacrosse stick handle, grabbed him by the throat, according to police.

Murray allegedly went on to smash out the driver's side window and a taillight of the victim's car, which was parked nearby. He also reportedly struck the victim in the leg with the wooden board before fleeing the scene, according to court documents.

Although the other teens didn't attack the victim, they were reportedly complicit in the robbery and had "Murray's back" during the incident, according to police.

Shortly after sending out a description of the suspects, LeClerc, Lecce and Conrad were located by police walking together down Puritan Road and were brought back to Phillips Park so the victim could identify them.

Murray was ordered held because he has three pending cases dating back to May 5. Charges in those cases include breaking and entering a vehicle during the nighttime for a felony, breaking and entering a vehicle during the daytime for a felony and receiving stolen property valued over $250.

Judge Ellen Flatley had all four of Murray's cases combined and ordered that if he posted bail he stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victims of his crimes.

She scheduled him to return to court Sept. 27 for a pretrial hearing.

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