AUGUSTA — Four people from four different communities were arrested over the past three days on charges relating to separate domestic violence assault incidents.
They were arraigned on the misdemeanor charges at the Capital Judicial Center via video from the Kennebec County jail.
If you need help
For help with a domestic abuse situation in Kennebec and Somerset counties, call the Family Violence Project at 1-877-890-7788.
Eric Dupre, 31, of Vassalboro was arrested late Sunday night after a Maine State Police K-9 team located him in the woods near Bog and Webber Pond roads.
An affidavit by Trooper Eric Sucy said he responded to the address and found two women outside, one with blood on her teeth and lips and who reported being “punched in the face multiple times” by Dupre.
Police initially were told Dupre, who was wearing tan pants but no shirt, fled into the woods with a knife, but later one woman said she mistook a cellphone for a knife.
The woman named as the victim said the couple had argued over a movie she rented the previous night that he wanted to watch. She told police Dupre went into a rage and she fled to the bathroom, but he kicked the door in and slapped her before grabbing her by the throat and cutting off her airway.
The other woman tried to pull Dupre off the victim, who eventually fled into the yard where Dupre allegedly hit her with a kitchen chair.
Sucy’s affidavit, filed with the court, says Trooper J.G. Neagle and his K9 Draco tracked down Dupre in the woods.
Sucy wrote, “Eric said he was scared and chased from his home and (the victim) planned this whole event.”
Dupre also said he had a dog bite on his left thigh.
Sucy indicated that Dupre was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center twice, first for medical clearance and then for a mental evaluation before being taken to jail.
Dupre pleaded guilty at his arraignment, and Judge Paul Mathews imposed the sentence sought by the state. Dupre was ordered to serve an initial seven days of a 364-day sentence, the balance was suspended and he was placed on two years’ probation with a number of conditions. Dupre was banned from using alcohol and illegal drugs and ordered to undergo psychological and substance abuse evaluation and counseling as recommended. He also was ordered to complete a certified batterers’ intervention program and participate in domestic violence court.
“The victim is here,” Assistant District Attorney Michael Madigan told the judge. “She has indicated she does not have concerns for her safety provided he is in this counseling.”
Attorney Andrew Dawson, as a lawyer of the day, said there was no objection to any of the conditions.
Dupre said he was willing to do that because the victim “deserves it.”
In a separate incident, Damian Wesley Genthner, 18, of Augusta, was charged with domestic violence assault, obstructing report of crime or injury and criminal mischief, all of which allegedly occurred May 24, 2017, in Augusta.
The affidavit of probable cause for arrest was filed Monday at court.
In it, Augusta Police Officer Michael Raymond, says a woman indicated Genthner attempted to strangle her at a Cony Road address that day. It also says he threw her phone on the ground, breaking it, as she was trying to call police. The victim then used a neighbor’s phone to call for help.
Raymond wrote that Genthner admitted in an interview at the Augusta police station on Sunday that he punched the woman in the stomach and started to squeeze her neck. Raymond arrested him on the charges at that point.
Genthner pleaded not guilty in court.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Madigan said that the state was seeking a personal recognizance bond because Genthner is young, has no criminal record, and came to the Augusta police station when requested. A condition of bail prohibits him from having contact with the named victim.
Mathews approved that bail, and set Genthner’s next court hearing for 2 p.m. Aug. 8.
In another case, Timmothy M. Goodwin, 35, of Fairfield, is accused of domestic violence assault that allegedly occurred June 2 in Hallowell.
Goodwin is accused of injuring a woman in an apartment after they argued over her cellphone that day.
An affidavit by Hallowell Police Officer Christopher Martinez says the victim said that Goodwin burned the back of her neck when he grabbed her by the hair while holding a cigarette and that he slapped her in the face.
Goodwin told the judge, “Not guilty, sir,” when he was asked for his plea.
Madigan asked that bail be set at $10,000 with no contact with the woman named as the victim. Madigan said the victim is the same person who was the victim in a prior domestic violence case handled June 29, 2016, and that Goodwin remains on probation for that.
Madigan also said that the state anticipated filing a probation revocation motion shortly, which would likely mean he would be held without bail until he could be brought before a judge on that charge.
Attorney Lisa Whittier, acting as a lawyer of the day, argued that “$10,000 on a misdemeanor domestic without bodily injury is excessive.”
She requested $1,000 bail on the new charge, saying Goodwin would live with his mother and would agree to a no-contact provision with the named victim.
Goodwin denied there was a no-contact provision already in effect.
“We live together,” Goodwin told the judge.
The judge told Goodwin and Whittier that Goodwin had been scheduled to appear in domestic violence court — a specialty court where a judge oversees participants’ compliance with probation conditions — Monday in Somerset County.
“There may be a warrant issued there,” Mathew said, before setting bail on the new charge at $2,000 with a condition of no contact with victim and no use or possession of alcohol and drugs. Goodwin is set to appear in court on Aug. 8 at 2 p.m.
He was ordered held without bail on the probation violation charge.
In the final case, Helena A. Bridgham, 28, of Mount Vernon, was arrested Friday afternoon on a charge of domestic violence assault and violating conditions of release which allegedly occurred Friday in Mount Vernon. She pleaded not guilty.
Madigan said Bridgham assaulted her former husband and his mother, who had been baby-sitting Bridgham’s children that day.
The affidavit by Trooper Jacob Roddy says those at the scene indicated Helena Bridgham grabbed the woman by the hair and pulled her to the ground and that Bridgham’s former husband tried to pull her off. Roddy said the victim had the imprint of her necklace on her neck, bruising on her leg and forearm and was bleeding from her forearm.
Roddy also wrote that Helena Bridgham told him she had a few drinks, and he learned at the jail she was on bail conditions prohibiting her from having alcohol.
Madigan said Bridgham had pleaded guilty to a charge of operating under the influence April 12 and placed on a deferred disposition. When he told the judge that Bridgham had been drinking, she shook her head from side to side, indicating she disagreed with that.
He asked that her current bail be revoked, and that bail on the new charge be set at $1,000 or $500 with a Maine Pretrial Services contract that included a no-contact provision with the named victims.
Whittier requested $1,000 on both charges or $500 with a contract. “She would live with her father,” Whittier said,
Mathews denied bail on the violation charge and set bail at $1,000 and a Maine Pretrial Services contract on the new charge, adding that the bail could be reviewed again later.
“It strikes me that there may need to be a little time here for everyone to cool down and separate,” he said.
Her next hearing is set for June 27.
For help with a domestic abuse situation in Kennebec and Somerset counties people can call the Family Violence Project at 1-877-890-7788.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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