Somerville man with history of violence on the Orange Line indicted for alleged intimidation campaign against T worker

A man convicted of beating up two women on the Orange Line in 2010 allegedly spent two months this year spitting racial insults at an MBTA worker at the Sullivan Square stop - and punched out a CharlieCard machine - the state Attorney General's office charges.

Joseph Balistreri, 39, faces three counts of violating a permanent injunction, two counts of making threats and one count of criminal harassment, according to the AG's office. In 2010, he was arrested for attacking two women on the Orange Line he accused of being lesbians.

In a statement, the Attorney General's office recounts what led to the new charges:

According to authorities, Balistreri initially targeted the MBTA employee after being asked to extinguish his cigarette in a nonsmoking area of Sullivan Station. Balistreri allegedly threatened and harassed the MBTA employee, using racial epithets, on multiple occasions through February 2013 when asked to stop smoking on MBTA property. In March 2013, Balistreri was observed punching a Charlie Card machine. When asked if he needed assistance, Balistreri allegedly verbally assaulted the MBTA employee and threatened him. Authorities allege that one week later Balistreri was observed taking pictures of the MBTA employee. When the employee confronted him, Balistreri allegedly responded with racial epithets, threatened him and further stated that he and his friends would kill him.

Innocent, etc.