Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – Less than one week after pleading guilty to assault and kidnapping charges, a Brockton man allegedly violated a restraining order and set fire to the victim’s dwelling, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
A warrant has been issued for Laroy Cox, 48, of Brockton, on three counts of Attempted Murder, and one count each of Arson of a Dwelling, Malicious Destruction of Property under $1,200, and Violation of a Restraining Order.
Last Monday in Plymouth Superior Court, Cox pleaded guilty to Assault and Battery, Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (Habitual Offender), Larceny under $1,200, Kidnapping (Habitual Offender), and Witness Intimidation. Cox served approximately seven months in the House of Corrections and was sentenced to three years of probation with the conditions that he stay away from the victim, remain drug-free and submit to random testing, attend a batterer’s program, and that he wear a GPS monitoring bracelet.
The latest charges allege that on May 21, Cox set fire to the Brockton apartment of a victim with an active restraining order out against him. Probation officials tracked Cox to the site and time of the fire because he was wearing his GPS monitoring bracelet. Following the incident, the charges allege that Cox cut off his bracelet, and continued to make contact with the victim. The fire is being jointly investigated by Brockton Police, Brockton Fire and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
On Sunday, Brockton Police and Probation officials sought and obtained a warrant for Cox’s arrest, pictured below. Anyone with information regarding Cox should contact Brockton Police at 508-941-0200 or the Massachusetts Arson Watch Hotline at 1-800-682-9229.