No Coronavirus Release For Violent North Shore Robbery Suspect

SALEM, MA — A man awaiting trial for violent robberies in Peabody and Salem and who was injured in a shootout when he tried to escape from a Boston hospital will remain in jail.

"COVID-19 does not diminish the danger presented to the community by the defendant. I'm concerned, frankly, the defendant might harm others due to his release," Salem Superior Court Thomas Drechsler said in shooting down Wallace's request for release because he is at risk of contracting the coronavirus.

According to the Salem News, which first reported this story, Wallace had asked to be released to a community group home. Attorneys for Wallace argued he will die if he is not released.

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A Suffolk Superior Court judge has already granted his request by reducing his $1 million bail and agreeing to let him go on personal recognizance. But Wallace still needed a Salem County Superior court judge to grant a similar request.

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled people charged with most crimes should be released without bail "unless an unreasonable danger to the community would result, or the individual presents a very high risk of flight" because of the high risk of contracting coronavirus in prison. In the first week after the ruling, 296 prisoners were released.

In December 2010, Wallace ordered four workers at the now closed Borders in Peabody to lead him to the cash room. Three months later, in March 2011, Wallace confronted a manager of the Salem PetSmart in the parking lot and forced her to return to the store and open a safe, according to prosecutors. After both armed robberies, he escaped in stolen cars which he set on fire in Salem.

Wallace is also awaiting trial on charges in Suffolk County, where he is accused of trying to escape from a Boston Hospital in 2013. During the escape attempt, Wallace was injured in a shootout with two Middlesex County correctional officers.

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Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).