A man with a prior conviction for child rape has been ordered held without bail after prosecutors say he attacked a woman and then sexually assaulted a Planet Fitness employee who tried to stop him, inside the women’s locker room of the gym’s Porter Square location in Cambridge.
Laquan Holland, 40, was arraigned on two counts of assault to rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery, kidnapping and witness intimidation, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, NBC10 Boston reported. A dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Prosecutors said Holland, a member of the gym, arrived around 9 a.m. on Oct. 1 with a woman he knew, after offering to let her use the showers there. Once inside, he allegedly began hitting her. She fled into the women’s locker room and shower area, and Holland allegedly followed, continuing to hit and touch her inappropriately while trying to remove her clothing and blocking her from leaving, authorities said.
A female employee entered the shower area and attempted to pull Holland off the woman. Prosecutors said he then sexually assaulted the employee as well. Police arrived to find Holland in the locker room attempting to get dressed.
A recent registration dispute
Holland’s case comes weeks after a separate charge against him was resolved. Cambridge police arrested him Aug. 25 for failing to register as a sex offender, a subsequent offense, according to police records reviewed by Fox News Digital. He is homeless and was known to stay in Cambridge and Boston, and under his registration requirements he must check in every 30 days.
The DA’s office said Holland had in fact shown up at Cambridge police headquarters to register on Aug. 25 but was arrested because he arrived late. That charge was later dismissed on the condition that he complete his registration, which he did on Aug. 27 — just weeks before the alleged attack at the gym.
Holland’s criminal record includes guilty pleas in 2006 to two counts of child rape and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to court records reported by Boston.com.
Gym response
Planet Fitness said the franchise operator that runs the Cambridge location has canceled Holland’s membership and is assisting investigators.
“Planet Fitness is committed to providing a safe environment for all. The franchise group has cancelled the membership of the individual involved and is working with local law enforcement to support their investigation into this matter,” the company said.
