TEMPLETON — A Templeton woman was charged with assault and battery on a family or household member after police said she slapped a man during an incident on Feb. 12, 2026.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Gardner District Court, Nellie Nowell, 29, of Patriots Road in Templeton, was charged with one count of assault and battery on a family or household member.
The complaint alleges that on Feb. 12, 2026, Nowell assaulted and beat Cody A. Tourigny, who was identified in the charging document as a family or household member under Massachusetts law.
In a personnel narrative included with the court records, Templeton Police Sergeant Derek Hall said he photographed Tourigny’s face and observed what appeared to be a small black-and-blue mark forming on the left side of his cheek, along with swelling compared to the right side of his face.
Sergeant Hall wrote in his personnel narrative that Officer Timothy Stewart remained at the scene and asked Tourigny if he wanted an emergency restraining order, but he declined. The report states that Tourigny signed a rights form and did not want to provide a voluntary written statement about what had happened.
Sergeant Hall said Nowell was transported to the Templeton Police Department, where she was booked and advised of her rights.
“During the ride back to the police department, Nellie advised that she only slapped him one time,” Sgt. Hall wrote in his personnel narrative.
Nowell was later released on personal recognizance by a bail commissioner and ordered to appear in Gardner District Court.
At her Feb. 13 arraignment, Nowell pleaded not guilty, according to the docket. Following her arraignment, Judge Mark A. Goldstein released her on personal recognizance and imposed special conditions including no abuse and that she remain alcohol-free with screens.
Nowell’s next court date is a pretrial hearing scheduled for April 1 in Gardner District Court.