Man Indicted on Assault, Kidnapping Charges

A Merrimack man who has been in jail since his arrest on Jan. 1, was indicted this month on six charges including kidnapping, second-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault and three counts of simple assault.

Police arrested Matthew Bobola, 44, of 19 Hilton Drive, Merrimack, at the beginning of the year, alleging that he physically restrained and assaulted a family member during an argument at home.

According to court paperwork, Bobola strangled his female victim, sat on her as he attempted to place plastic zip ties around her head, tried to put plastic zip ties around her neck, poked her in the eye with his thumb and twisted her arm above her head.

According to the indictments, the second-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault and kidnapping charges constitute class B felonies and are punishable by up to 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison and up to $4,000 in fines. The three simple assault charges are class A misdemeanors, each punishable by up to a year in jail and up to $2,000 in fines.

And indictment is not an indication of guilt by rather a ruling by a grand jury that there's enough evidence to move a case forward to trial.

Bobola has been held on cash-only bail since his arrest.