A judge on Saturday denied bail for a South Carolina man badly beaten after allegedly trying to sexually assault his nephew’s girlfriend during a New Year’s party.

William Mattson, 52, is charged with criminal sexual conduct in the first degree in the alleged assault at a home in Conway, northwest of Myrtle Beach, early New Year’s Day, NBC station WMBF reported. Conway police said they were called to the home just before 1 a.m. on a report of an attempted sexual assault, but by the time they arrived, they found Mattson bruised and injured.

The 27-year-old man who beat Mattson told police he briefly left a party, returned to the sound of moaning coming from the bedroom he shares with his girlfriend, then kicked open the door and found Mattson on top of the woman — at which point he beat up his uncle and chased him out of the house, NBC affiliate WCBD reported.

Mattson told officers he was clothed but the woman was naked under some blankets, and they only hugged and kissed, but the 21-year-old woman told authorities the encounter was not consensual, the station reported. Mattson's nephew, who was not identified, was not charged. Conway Police Lt. Selena Small said Saturday that the nephew "was acting in defense of his girlfriend who was being raped." It was not clear if Mattson had an attorney Saturday.

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— Phil Helsel