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Saugus selectman won’t face assault charges

Assault charges filed against Stephen M. Horlick, a Saugus selectman, were dropped on Monday because the victim refused to testify at his trial in Lynn District Court, according to the Essex district attorney’s office.

Horlick, who is serving his 10th year on the board, was charged in October with one count each of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a cellphone. The charges followed an incident in October at his Saugus home. A woman who lived with him reported to police that Horlick had assaulted her, causing bruises above her left eye, as well as to her upper arms, thighs, wrist, and knee, according to court papers. He also threw his cellphone at her, hitting her, according to the charges.

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Horlick pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Oct. 22 in Lynn District Court. A no abuse order was issued against him at the time.

The victim’s testimony was essential for prosecutors to pursue the charges. But on Monday, the victim invoked her Fifth Amendment rights, which prevent self-incrimination, said Carrie Kimball Monahan, a spokeswoman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

“Therefore the case was dismissed, due to lack of prosecution,” Monahan wrote in an e-mail.

Horlick did not return a telephone message left at his Saugus home or at his Wakefield business, VCR Technologies. John Burke, a North Andover lawyer who represented Horlick, also did not return a telephone message.

KATHY McCABE