AMANDA SABGA/Staff photoTerrance Jean-Jacques covers his face during his arraignment Wednesday in Haverhill District Court.

HAVERHILL, Mass. — A developing World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star is facing criminal charges after police say he assaulted his pregnant ex-girlfriend in his Massachusetts home. 

Terrance Jean-Jacques, 24, of Massachusetts, who signed a developmental contract with WWE, was arraigned Wednesday in Haverhill District Court in Massachusetts — three days after his arrest. He faces charges of assault, battery, kidnapping, witness intimidation, destruction of property and threatening to commit a crime.

The 6 foot-3 inch, 250-pound Jean-Jacques is accused of pushing his pregnant ex-girlfriend to keep her from leaving his apartment, then pushing her onto his bed and sitting on her legs.

The woman, a resident of Weare, New Hampshire, appeared in court Wednesday with Jean-Jacques’ parents.

Judge Stephen Abany ordered Jean-Jacques held without bail at the Middleton jail in Massachucetts.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the WWE said it has suspended Jean-Jacques in the wake of his arrest, adding the organization has “zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence.”

“Per company policy, Terrance Jean-Jacques has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest,” the statement said.

Jean-Jacques was in the beginning stages of training to join the organization’s developmental program at the time of his arrest. 

A decorated wrestler at the University of Iowa and later at Rhode Island College, Jean-Jacques appeared to be on the verge of tears as he stood in the courtroom before the judge Wednesday, a tight maroon Rhode Island College shirt over his chiseled frame.

While his family told the court Wednesday they have retained Boston defense attorney Edward Harrington to represent their son, Jean-Jacques was represented by public defender Courtney Joy.

Jean-Jacques’ mother asked the judge to release her son to the family, as Joy told the judge her client is scheduled to undergo knee surgery Thursday. 

The judge denied the request.

“It’s unfortunate. That’s probably the weakest word I can think of … but he’s probably going to have to miss that surgery,” he said. “But this is what happens when people are accused of doing some serious things.”

Assistant District Attorney Tom Sholds read from the police report that explained the woman told police she was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Jean-Jacques for a year and a half and was six months pregnant with his child.

She told police they had gone to Salem, Massachusetts, on Saturday night before returning to spend the night at Jean-Jacques’ apartment in the Hamel Mill Lofts.

She told police that sometime during the night Jean-Jacques left the apartment and, when she confronted him about his whereabouts the next morning, an argument broke out, during which she tried to leave the apartment.

“The defendant was enraged and began pushing her around the apartment, refusing to allow her to leave,” said Sholds as he read from the police report. “She reported she had never seen him like that before and was afraid of him.”

The report said Jean-Jacques then took the woman’s iPhone and smashed its screen against a brick wall. She was then able to get out of the apartment and came to the police station.

“When she came to report the incident, he was continuously texting her, saying that she could block him all she wants, but he knows where she’d be and can get her,” Sholds said.

Haverhill police then arrived at Jean-Jacques’ apartment and, after determining he wasn’t home, issued a warrant for his arrest. 

Francis writes for the North Andover, Massachucetts Eagle Tribune.