A Rome man has been charged after allegedly stabbing a man with a hunting knife.

Jackie Harper, 52, is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing another man as the two watched television inside his Augusta Road home.

Jackie Harper

Mark Evans, 34, who suffered stab wounds to his back and leg, was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, where he was treated and later released, according to Maine State Police Trooper Randy Hall.

Evans, who also lives on the property, was watching television at his mother’s house, which also is shared by Harper, around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when Harper tried to start a fight, according to an affidavit Hall filed at the Capital Judicial Center. Evans said he didn’t want to fight and told Harper to stop.

“Next thing he knows, Harper is stabbing him in the leg with a hunting knife,” Hall wrote.

Evans hit Harper in the face to get away. Hall wrote that the two men wrestled and crashed into a rabbit cage.

“Mark started to walk away and Harper stabbed him in the back,” Hall wrote.

A third man, Scott Weiker, intervened to separate the men, Hall wrote.

“Harper then ran outside with the knife in his hand and yelled, ‘If you want more, come back,'” Hall wrote.

Harper was arrested Sunday afternoon and held overnight without bail at the Kennebec County jail. He continued to be held Tuesday at the jail in lieu of $500 cash bail.