AUGUSTA — A 32-year-old city man was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 cash bail on domestic violence charges stemming from an incident Monday in Augusta.

Christopher W. Hardison has been charged with domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, assault, criminal threatening and violation of a condition of release.

Justice William Stokes on Wednesday set the bail at the amount requested by the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Paul Cavanaugh.

In arguing for what he termed “extraordinary bail,” Cavanaugh listed seven prior assault convictions of Hardison as well as convictions for domestic violence assault and terrorizing, all in Penobscot County in the previous 10 years.

In an affidavit filed in court, Augusta police Officer Nathan Walker said he responded to a report of a man and woman fighting in a Summer Street apartment. Walker wrote that the woman’s neck was red and her shirt was torn in the back. He said she formerly had lived with Hardison and that she confronted him about a particularly high electric bill she had just received.

The woman told police that Hardison “became irate and began to flip over furniture in the apartment. … (The woman) stated that when she tried to leave the apartment, Christopher grabbed her by the back of her T-shirt and swung her around the apartment.”

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Later Hardison told police that “he messed up” and that he had consumed a six-pack of beer, which worsened his temper.

Police said they saw a kitchen table flipped over and that broken glass, candles and other items were on the floor.

At the time of the incident, Hardison was subject to bail conditions relating to a criminal mischief charge.

Stephen Bourget, an attorney serving as lawyer for the day on Wednesday, asked that Hardison be placed on unsecured bail with conditions, including a curfew and a condition banning him from alcohol.

“He can’t afford anything,” Bourget said.

Hardison told Bourget he was employed and that he could stay at a shelter if it would take him.

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At one point during the hearing conducted at the Capital Judicial Center, with Hardison appearing via video link from the Kennebec County jail, Hardison interrupted Bourget to say that the altercation happened at the victim’s place, not at Hardison’s.

A condition of bail prohibits Hardison from contact with the victim and from use and possession of alcohol, illegal drugs and weapons.

His next court date on the domestic violence charges is set for Dec. 8.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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