Guaman Pleads Not Guilty, Held Without Bail

WORCESTER — A Superior Court judge ordered held without bail Tuesday at an arraignment hearing in which the former construction worker pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him in the death of Matthew Denice.

Superior Court Judge James Lemire ordered Guaman, 34, held without bail and he was told to surrender his passport to Milford police. Guaman is charged with second degree murder, manslaughter while driving a motor vehicle, leaving the scene after a collision causing death, and several other state offenses.

With the assistance of a Spanish language interpreter, Guaman pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in a barely audible voice. The courtroom had additional security for his appearance.

Denice, 23, a resident of Milford, was killed Aug. 20 after he was struck while riding his motorcycle. Prosecutors contend that Guaman, who was driving the pickup truck that hit Denice, continued to drive after the collision, dragging Denice for a distance of a quarter-mile.

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers, the prosecutor, asked Lemire to set no bail. "That's based upon the seriousness of the charges," Travers said, as well as Guaman's "illegal status in the United States." Guaman is represented by Peter Ettenberg, a Worcester defense attorney appointed by the court. He said he agreed with the stipulation of no bail while Guaman awaits trial.

Guaman is charged with seven offenses: second degree murder, manslaughter by motor vehicle, motor vehicle homicide operating under the influence of liquor, reckless endangerment of a child, leaving the scene of a collision causing death, failure to stop for police and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

He is charged with reckless endangerment of a child because his 6-year-old son was in the truck at the time of the collision. Aug. 20, the date of the incident, was the boy's birthday, according to the records filed in Worcester Superior Court.

Guaman, a citizen of Ecuador, is in the United States illegally, according to local and federal law enforcement authorities. has issued a detainer on him, which would hold him should he be released pending deportation proceedings.

Family and friends of Denice filled three rows at Worcester Superior Court Tuesday morning for the arraignment hearing. They declined to speak to media following the hearing.

Guaman is next scheduled to appear in court Dec. 15 for a pretrial hearing.