A convicted child rapist allegedly attacked a woman after bringing her to a Planet Fitness gym to use the showers, then allegedly sexually assaulted an employee who tried to intervene.
Laquan Holland, 40, allegedly beat the woman, tried to strip off her clothing and blocked her escape inside the Cambridge, Massachusetts, gym, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office told Fox News Digital.
The attack came weeks after a charge accusing Holland of failing to register as a sex offender was dismissed on the condition that he complete his registration, prosecutors confirmed.
Holland was ordered held without bail after his arraignment on two counts of assault to rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery, kidnapping and witness intimidation.
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A dangerousness hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16. NBC10 Boston reported that a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
Prosecutors said Holland, a member of the Porter Square gym, arrived around 9 a.m. Oct. 1 with a woman he knew after offering to let her use the showers.
But once they arrived, Holland allegedly began hitting her.
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The woman fled into the women’s locker room and shower area, authorities said. Holland allegedly followed, continuing to hit and touch her inappropriately while trying to remove her clothing and preventing her from leaving, according to the DA’s office.
A female employee entered the shower area and tried to pull Holland off the woman. He allegedly sexually assaulted her, too.
Police arrived to find Holland in the locker room trying to put his clothes back on, prosecutors said.
Holland’s criminal history includes guilty pleas in 2006 to two counts of child rape and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, Boston.com reported, citing court records.
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More recently, 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.
The DA’s office said Holland, who is homeless and was known to stay in Cambridge and Boston, must complete registration and verification requirements every 30 days.
He showed up at Cambridge police headquarters to register Aug. 25 but was arrested because he was late, prosecutors said. The charge was later dismissed on the condition that he register, which he completed Aug. 27.
Planet Fitness told Fox News Digital that the franchise operator canceled Holland’s membership and is cooperating with 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.
