ATTLEBORO - An Attleboro man allegedly threatened to kill his 56-year-old disabled girlfriend, then beat her into unconsciousness in what authorities say was the latest assault against the woman.

"I know how to put marks on people which the cops can't detect," William J. Crowley allegedly told the victim, Assistant District Attorney Brian Zuanich said during a bail hearing for Crowley Wednesday in Attleboro District Court.

Crowley, 42, of 413B South Main St. in Attleboro, was ordered held without bail after pleading innocent to charges of assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery, intimidation of a witness and uttering threats to kill.

He faces a dangerousness hearing next Wednesday during which prosecutors will ask a judge to keep him in jail without bail for up to 90 days while they prepare for trial.

The 56-year-old woman, who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, suffered two black eyes, a broken nose and bruises over other parts of her body and was treated at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, police said. Crowley allegedly grabbed the woman by the neck and hit her head repeatedly against the arm rest of a couch before picking her up and throwing her into a chair and wall of her apartment, police said.

Crowley allegedly threatened the woman telling her, "If you call the cops I'll kill you," Zuanich said.

The alleged attack occurred, Zuanich said, after a quarrel about another man giving her a ride to Norton to pick up her car.

Crowley's lawyer, Paul Carlucci of Franklin, declined to comment on the charges, but said Crowley has no prior criminal record.

The prosecutor alleged there is a prior history of abuse in which the woman was beaten but declined to report the incident.

Police were notified in July by the state Disabled Persons Protection Commission after alleged abuse was reported by a therapist for Community Care Services, according to authorities.

The latest alleged abuse was reported Tuesday but occurred sometime last Friday night.

The woman told police she must have passed out because she remembered waking up Saturday morning on the living room floor, police said.

Crowley was arrested at his home Tuesday night after an investigation by detectives Russell Castro and Jeffrey Peavey.

Judge Andrew D'Angelo also issued a restraining order Wednesday requested by the woman against Crowley.