SKOWHEGAN — A St. Albans man has been indicted by a Somerset County grand jury on criminal charges including assault on a child under the age of 6, cruelty to an animal, criminal threatening and criminal trespass for an alleged incident Aug. 21 in St. Albans.

The grand jury alleges that Jason A. Tuttle, 39, of Melody Lane, barged into a neighbor’s home and grabbed his dog, which had run away, punching the animal several times in the head with his fist in front of the neighbor’s children. The dog reportedly ran off and went back into the neighbor’s house, allegedly followed by Tuttle who reportedly knocked a 3-year-old child down and across the floor and punched the dog some more, according to court documents. Tuttle also allegedly threatened another person in the home as he attacked the dog. He was arrested on a probation violation and his case went to the grand jury for review.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but an indication that enough evidence is present to proceed with trial.

Also indicted were two people charged with arson for allegedly setting a fire July 22 in Harmony.

Michael Hardy, 41, of New Bern, North Carolina, and Lisa Woodard, 45, of Dexter, are each charged with two counts of arson in connection with the fire. They are charged on two counts of arson each for allegedly intending to damage property and for recklessly endangering the lives of other people who were present, Assistant District Attorney Brent Davis said during Woodard’s arraignment in July.

Also indicted by the grand jury was John E. Jolly, 50, of Skowhegan, charged with gross sexual assault, a Class A felony, and unlawful sexual contact, a Class B felony, Aug. 8 in Skowhegan. Jolly is alleged to have assaulted a 32-year-old woman on West Front Street.

The Jolly case was the third such felony sex offense handled by Skowhegan police in as many weeks.

Adam Cates, 27, of Skowhegan, also was charged during that period. He was indicted by the grand jury on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual abuse of a minor July 29. Cates is charged for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and sharing images of his illegal activity on a social media site. Cates was arrested after an investigation by Skowhegan police in cooperation with the State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the federal Department of Homeland Security.

The following people also were indicted by the grand jury.

• Joshua J. Johnson, 28, of Brighton Plantation, charged with attempted robbery June 27 in Skowhegan.

• Nikolas Raines, 24, of Warren, charged with theft April 20 in Palmyra.

• Benjamin M. Spaulding, 27, of Skowhegan, charged with theft May 3-6 in Bingham.

• Robert L. Tucker, 46, of Anson, charged with eight counts of burglary, seven counts of theft, two counts of stealing drugs, four counts of criminal mischief and one count of attempted theft, all between Sept. 29, 2014, and Nov. 15, 2015, in Somerset County.

• Shane M. Heathers, 29, of Clinton, charged with aggravated operating under the influence and two counts of violating conditions of release Aug. 17 in Fairfield.

• Jodie Nadeau, 21, of Fairfield, charged with assault Aug. 15 in Fairfield.

• Scott Lessard, 50, of Skowhegan, charged with four counts of violation of conditions of release and with possession of drugs Aug. 25 in Skowhegan and Madison.

• Adriana Schwendt, 49, of Glenburn, charged with stealing drugs Feb. 25 in Skowhegan.

• Mykel Rollins, 28, of Skowhegan, charged with three counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon July 25 in Skowhegan.

• Earlene M. Moody, 55, a transient, charged with aggravated OUI and operating after suspension Aug. 13 in Skowhegan.

• Matthew Gray, 33, of Skowhegan, charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of drugs Sept. 2 in Skowhegan.

• Donald P. Fencik, 65, of Waterville, charged with aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation and aggravated OUI Sept. 1 in Mercer.

• Travis D. Brown, 39, of Norridgewock, charged with aggravated criminal mischief, furnishing liquor to a minor and allowing a minor to possess or consume liquor May 28 in Somerset County.

• Noah R. Weeks, 32, of Norridgewock, charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, assault, domestic violence criminal threatening and criminal mischief July 10 in Norridgewock.

• Dustin D. Hubler, 21, of Bingham, charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence assault and criminal threatening Aug. 27 in Bingham.

• Melvin H. Hubbard IV, 21, of Waterville, charged with robbery, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and theft May 6 in Fairfield.

• Jason M. Dube, 33, of Pittsfield, charged with two counts of unlawful sexual contact and assault between Feb. 16 and March 13 in Pittsfield.

• Markwan Granville, 20, of Rochester, New York, charged with aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, unlawful trafficking, conspiracy to commit aggravated trafficking and conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking May 10 in Fairfield.

• Jamie Betances, 29, of Rochester, New York, charged with aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs, unlawful trafficking, conspiracy to commit aggravated trafficking and conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking May 10 in Fairfield.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow

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