AUGUSTA — A city man indicted on a charge of robbing a Leighton Road homeowner of $200 last month after beating him was released on bail on Friday.
Nicholas R. Williams, 32, had asked a judge on Thursday to reduce the $10,000 amount set previously in the case.
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Williams’ attorney, Robert Ruffner, said Maine Pretrial Services agreed to supervise Williams if he was released on bail.
Justice Donald Marden lowered the cash amount to $5,000 as long as a pretrial supervision contract was in place.
The bail argument in Kennebec County Superior Court came after Williams pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with the March 12 robbery, in which police say the 69-year-old victim was pistol-whipped.
Ruffner said the $10,000 bail was unachievable, but that Maine Pretrial Services had agreed to supervise Williams if he made bail.
Ruffner requested bail of $500-$1,000 cash, saying Williams, who has a 2001 robbery conviction, had essentially remained out of trouble for about a decade.
An affidavit by Augusta Police Officer Paul Doody says Williams and the homeowner were acquainted and that Williams came into the house that day, “pulled a black handgun with a very short barrel out of his waistband and told (the victim), ‘Give me you money or I will kill you.’”
The homeowner told Williams to go ahead and kill him because he had no money, according to the affidavit, and said Williams struck him on the head with the gun, kicked him in the face and upper body as he lay on the floor, and rifled his pockets before fleeing with cash he found there.
Doody said the homeowner was too dazed by the assault to chase Williams.
Ruffer also told the judge on Thursday that he understood that the incident was more of an argument over the sale of prescription drugs rather than a robbery. He also said a BB-gun was involved.
“There was no weapon at my client’s house,” Ruffner said.
Assistant District Attorney Joelle Pratt sought to have the$10,000 amount remain.
A condition of bail prohibits contact between Williams and the victim.
Betty Adams — 621-5631 badams@centralmaine.com Twitter: @betadams
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