Mugshot of Nishma Matta Lopez. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Bail has been reduced for a woman accused of assaulting her boyfriend’s previous intimate partner.
Nishma Matta Lopez and her boyfriend Carlos Calderon Jr. were both charged with simple assault and battery, disturbance of the peace by fighting and instigating or aiding a fight. The charges follow an incident on July 15th, 2020 where the two are said to have attacked Calderon’s ex-girlfriend. The V.I. Police Department issued a release on Thursday stating that both Matta Lopez and Calderon had left the territory during the investigation process, however Matta Lopez recently returned to St. Croix and was advised of the outstanding warrant.
According to documents before the court, the victim noticed Matta Lopez at a bakery in Estate Castle Coakley around 9:00 a.m. on the day in question. She stated that Matta Lopez paid for her items and walked outside and she then proceeded to the counter to purchase some items of her own. She looked outside and noticed Matta Lopez and her ex-boyfriend Carlos Calderon Jr. looking into her vehicle. The woman told police that later, as she was putting her items into the vehicle her ex-boyfriend drove up and Matta Lopez exited the vehicle, telling her “you alone now”. Matta Lopez then rushed at her aggressively and allegedly began punching her in the face.
The victim said that a physical altercation ensued and during the fight, Calderon Jr. held her while Matta Lopez continued punching her. Her ex-boyfriend then let her go and allegedly began punching her in the face as well. According to the woman, at some point, she ended up on the ground and the pair got on top of her, grabbing her hair and ripping it from her scalp.
Nishma Matta Lopez turned herself into the police on the morning of August 3rd, 2020. She told police that the victim had thrown words at her, telling her “pullup” to indicate that she was ready to fight. She also indicated that she had promised the woman that she would “bust her ass” anytime they met. Matta Lopez told police that she became enraged and jumped out of the vehicle after the woman continued throwing words at her. She claimed that by the time she walked up to the woman, she was being assaulted. She admitted to punching the victim in the face and stated that she grabbed her hair, but only after the woman grabbed hers first. According to her version of events, Calderon Jr. then exited the vehicle and attempted to separate the two. She told police that she did not see him assault the woman at any point.
Later that same morning Calderon Jr. arrived at the police station and in his statement, he denied assaulting the victim at any time. He told police that he held her hair in an attempt to stop his girlfriend from pulling it. However, during their investigations police spoke to multiple individuals who stated that they saw the three individuals fighting. According to the probable cause fact sheet, one of the witnesses recalled seeing Calderon holding the woman while Matta Lopez punched her. The individual also stated that Calderon punched the woman in the face. The investigating officer also located a picture of the fight on Facebook which showed the woman on the ground pushing Matta Lopez and Calderon Jr. off of her.
At an advisement hearing on April 22nd, 2022, it was revealed that Matta Lopez had previously posted $1000 bail. However, her attorney asked that $900 be returned to the defendant as she is considered low income and cares for an elderly relative and two minor kids. The judge agreed to this condition, indicating that Matta Lopez must sign an unsecured bond valued at $900. While the matter is pending, she must remain at least 1000 feet from the victim at all times and is strictly prohibited from having any contact with the victim, witnesses or her co-defendant Carlos Calderon Jr. It is unclear whether an advisement hearing has already been held for Calderon Jr.
Advertisements
