An Augusta city man pleaded guilty to assault Tuesday in connection with an incident last September on the Kennebec River Rail Trail that sent another man to the hospital with injuries.

David H. Ladd, 54, was placed on deferred disposition for 12 months; and if he successfully fulfills some requirements, he can withdraw the guilty plea and his case will be dismissed under an agreement approved by Justice Donald Marden.

At the hearing Tuesday at the Capital Judicial Center, Ladd was accompanied by his attorney, Walter McKee.

Conditions of the deferral require Ladd to pay $133 restitution for the benefit of the victim as well as a $25 monthly administrative supervision fee. He also must participate in a psychological assessment, follow all recommendations and provide proof to the district attorney’s office.

Ladd was charged with assault on Sept. 17, 2015, three days after police investigated a report that Michael T. McCabe, 49, of Gardiner, was the victim of an assault about 10 a.m. on the trial in Farmingdale near the Sheldon Street intersection. Witnesses reported seeing the assault and said one man fled after they yelled at him to stop.

Maine State Police Detective Scott Bryant previously had said McCabe told them that he and another man were both on the rail trail, and he bumped the other man by accident.

Advertisement

“The suspect turned around and kicked him, and the victim banged his head on rocks,” Bryant said, adding that the attack appeared to be random.

McCabe was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Ladd was identified later as the suspect.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.