$25,000 bail set in wild ride case; Man charged in girfriend's assault.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Dave Greenslit

CLINTON - A man who allegedly beat, choked and raped his girlfriend before hitting her with her car in Bolton was ordered held on $25,000 bail yesterday.

John D. Martineau, 31, of Tewksbury was arraigned in Clinton District Court on charges stemming from what the 21-year-old victim told police was a frightening ride from Lowell to Bolton early Monday morning.

Police charged Mr. Martineau with aggravated rape, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, three counts of assault with intent to murder, three counts of destroying property, larceny of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, three counts of leaving the scene of a property damage accident and reckless driving.

Judge Martha A. Brennan set bail and continued the case to Feb. 16.

The victim was able to escape from Mr. Martineau near the intersection of Routes 117 and 85 in Bolton after jumping out of her car, which he had driven into the parking lot of the Country Cupboard variety store. She told police Mr. Martineau had dragged her with the vehicle before she broke free and ran to a home for help.

According to a report from Bolton Police Officer Yvette D. Washington, the victim gave the following account of events that culminated in Bolton just after 3 a.m. Monday:

She had gotten out of her car in Lowell during an argument with Mr. Martineau, but got back in after he threatened to harm her family and friends. Her 2006 Ford Taurus then ran out of gas, and the woman called her father to bring some. While waiting, she tried running away from Mr. Martineau, who caught her, threw her to the ground, and choked her. When her father showed up with the gas, Mr. Martineau convinced him his daughter was all right.

Mr. Martineau then drove onto Interstate 495 South, at one point allegedly slamming his girlfriend's head against the car window and breaking the rear-view...