Boston man beat up and stole from his friend during home invasion, DA says

A Boston man is facing charges in connection with beating up and stealing from his friend during a home invasion in April, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

Roxbury resident Juan Blanco, 66, has been charged with home invasion, assault and battery on a person over 60 with serious injury, assault and battery on a person over 60 and larceny from a building, the district attorney’s office said in a press release.

On April 9, Boston police responded to a report of a home invasion at a residence on Bowdoin Street in Dorchester around 1:30 p.m., the district attorney’s office said. The victim — a 68-year-old man — was found with a swollen and bloody nose and lip.

The victim told police that Blanco — who he considered a friend — unexpectedly knocked on his door sometime between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. that day, the district attorney’s office said. When the victim opened the door, Blanco hit him in the face with the back of a knife, causing the victim to fall to the floor and lose consciousness.

The victim said he called police after waking up dizzy and in a pool of blood, the district attorney’s office said. He soon discovered that Blanco had stolen his Social Security Direct Express card, which had $1,000 on it and the PIN written on the back.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Blanco after the victim identified him in a photo array, the district attorney’s office said. Blanco previously served time in prison and has faced “a multitude” of various assault and battery charges.

“This incident has an added dimension of sadness given that the victim told investigators he knew and was friends with the person who attacked him and stole his social security card,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release.

Blanco is being held without bail until his arraignment on the charges in Dorchester District Court, which is scheduled for Friday, the district attorney’s office said.