Local businessman Stephen Stapinski called friends around town on Monday night to let them know about the assault charges filed against him by two women in Lawrence early Sunday morning. And he said he was not guilty of those charges.

His lawyer, Scott Gleason of Haverhill, said Stapinski was robbed and was in Lawrence during the snowstorm to check on a vacant building he owns nearby. Gleason said he checks on the building every night. The trouble erupted when Stapinski followed the women and attempted to retrieve his stolen debit card.

"There is no doubt that Steve Stapinski was robbed," Gleason said. "He was embarrassed when the police arrived. ...We have documentation that shows there were five attempts to use his debit card while he was in jail," Gleason said.

Stapinski will appear in court on Jan. 14.

Meanwhile, longtime friend and Town Moderator Sheila Doherty was one of those to get the call from Stapinski on Monday night. She said Stapinski wanted friends to hear about the Lawrence incident from him, not a newspaper.

Stapinski, who lives on Apache Avenue with his wife, Patricia, just started a three-year voluntary term on Andover's Finance Committee. Doherty appointed him in March 2008. She re-appointed him last July to a three-year term.

"Steve offered to resign, but I told him that was not necessary," Doherty said. "He has earned the time to clear his name.

"I didn't ask how many people he called. He just wanted people to hear it from him," she said. "He said he was not guilty and I believe him."

Doherty went on to say Stapinski, 56, brings "valuable experience" to the Finance Committee whose members volunteer. They do not get paid.

Stapinski is a well-known businessman in town and attends local benefit fundraisers frequently. He owns Merrimack Engineering on Park Street and is a well-known developer around Andover and throughout Merrimack Valley.

Doherty explained that the Town Moderator appoints residents to just one committee in town — the Finance Committee. She said Stapinski is a good fit.

"Their job is to advise Town Meeting," she said of the committee. "I don't always agree with him financially ... but strong character is needed and Steve has that."

Stapinski answered the telephone at his job on Tuesday the day after he called friends in Andover.

"I'm not guilty" is all he said on Tuesday before referring all questions to Gleason.

According to a police report, Lawrence police were called to 77 South Union St. in Lawrence at 2:25 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. In the police report, two police officers were responding "to a disturbance" at the address.

"Upon our arrival, we observed a vehicle parked on the corner with the rear end sticking into the street with the defendant (Stapinski) walking away from a broken window on the building."

Two women approached the officers and said Stapinski broke an apartment window and "assaulted both of them."

Stapinski was arrested and transported to the Lawrence Police Station.