SKOWHEGAN — A Fairfield man who used a shank when attacking a corrections officer at the Somerset County Jail was sentenced Tuesday to serve at least five years in prison, according to prosecutors and court records.
For the assault with the homemade knife, William J. Douglass Jr., 39, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with all but five suspended, and three years of probation, court records show.
Superior Court Chief Justice Robert Mullen sentenced Douglass at a hearing in Skowhegan.
In August, Douglass pleaded guilty to one Class B count of aggravated assault, three Class C counts of assault on an officer, one Class C count of violation of release, one Class C count of trafficking in prison contraband and one Class D count of criminal mischief, court records show.
The most severe aggravated assault charge and one of the assault on an officer charges resulted in the eight-year prison sentence. Sentences on the other counts, totaling one day short of five years, are set to be served concurrently.
Douglass also pleaded guilty in August to charges in a separate case that he damaged a communication device from a Somerset County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. His sentence in that case and a sentence for another drug-related charge were ordered by the court to be served concurrent with the sentence for the assault.
Advertisement
Douglass was initially arrested April 10 in on several drug-related charges, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office said previously.
Investigators arrested Douglass and his spouse at their Gagnon Street residence in Fairfield after executing a search warrant that turned up more than 40 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy, two loaded pistols and $4,000 in cash, Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said previously.
Related
Couple arrested after Fairfield drug bust at their home turns up guns, cash, drugs
While in custody at the Somerset County Jail in Madison for charges related to that case, Douglass assaulted the corrections officer, Derek McCarthy, with a shank and put him in a chokehold April 13, said Timothy Snyder, first assistant district attorney with the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office.
Two other corrections officers at the jail, identified in an indictment as Laneisha Bush and Kimberly A. Miller, intervened and were also assaulted, according to prosecutors and court records.
“The defendant wrapped his hand around McCarthy’s neck, put him in a chokehold and repeatedly tried to stab him,” Snyder said during a telephone call Wednesday, reading what he had read in court at the sentencing hearing. “As he did this, he forced McCarthy to the ground.”
McCarthy’s injuries included red marks on his neck and face, a puncture wound on his hand, redness and bruising on his shoulder and scratches on his face, Snyder said.
Advertisement
The three corrections officers whom Douglass assaulted remain employed by Somerset County, Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell said Wednesday.
Later that day, Deputy William Crawford of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office took Douglass from Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan back to the jail, Snyder said.
After leaving Douglass at the jail, Crawford realized a device in his vehicle used to communicate with emergency dispatchers was not working. Crawford found that the wireless internet device that powers it had been removed, Snyder said. Crawford contacted members of the jail staff, who found the wireless internet device with Douglass.
“When asked why he stole the pack, Mr. Douglass stated, ‘Just because,’” Snyder said.
Related
Sign up for the weekly “Skowhegan Now” newsletter
Douglass was charged with and later pleaded guilty to Class C aggravated criminal mischief, Class C trafficking in prison contraband, Class E theft by unauthorized taking, Class E failure to sign uniform summons and complaint and Class E violation of condition of release, court records show.
For those charges, Douglass was sentenced to a total of 3 1/2 years in prison, which are to be served concurrent with the sentence on the assault charges.
Advertisement
For the charges from Douglass’ initial arrest April 10 in Fairfield, he was also sentenced to concurrent prison time.
Douglass faced two Class A counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, and one Class C count of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, court records show.
Prosecutors dismissed the drug trafficking charges as part of the sentencing agreement, according to court records, and Douglass was sentenced to one year in prison on the drug possession charge following a guilty plea.
As of Wednesday, Douglass was incarcerated at the Maine State Prison in Warren, according to the Maine Department of Corrections.
If Douglass violates the terms of his probation, he could be ordered to serve the remaining three years of the eight-year prison sentence.
Conditions of probation include that he complete evaluation and treatment for substance abuse, and take all medications as prescribed, court records show.
Comments are not available on this story.