AUGUSTA — A Randolph man reported to be in a coffee brandy-fueled jealous rage was charged with aggravated assault today for allegedly trying to strangle a 23-year-old woman in front of their child.

Tommy Lee White, 26, was arrested early today and a judge that afternoon set bail at $5,000 cash, with conditions banning him from contact with the victim and imposing a curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. He remained in Kennebec County jail this afternoon.

Cpl. G. J. Neagle of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office responded just before 8 p.m. Aug. 3 to a report of an aggressive male “throwing people around” in the parking of Windsor Heights Apartments, Neagle’s report said.

A bystander saw a woman on the ground and a large man standing over her and heard him threaten her. The bystander said when he tried to help the woman, the man became aggressive toward him.

Neagle said the woman fled when bystanders came to her aid after White walked away.

Neagle later got a call saying the woman was safe at her mother’s Randolph home and had injuries to her neck and left ear. The woman told Neagle that White attacked her by grabbing her by the throat as she was waiting to pick up their 6-year-old son, pulling her out of a car and biting her ear.

Neagle said he saw fresh red marks on the woman’s throat and blood on her ear.

Neagle was told that the victim’s brother told White that she had been cheating on him with another man. The witness said White’s anger was fueled by coffee brandy.

A warrant was issued for White’s arrest based on Neagle’s affidavit.

Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com