AUGUSTA — A city man accused of stabbing a man in the face pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge, which could be dismissed if he is successful on a 12-month deferred disposition.

Bradford E. Buck, 63, of Augusta, denied using a knife, but told police at the time he punched the victim twice in the face on Sept. 7, 2017, in the Quick-Mart parking lot.

“There was no black-handled knife involved,” Buck told Judge Eric Walker at the Capital Judicial Center.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Kate Marshall, said the offense occurred after a woman who formerly had been in a relationship with Buck went to retrieve her belongings.

Marshall said Buck followed the woman back to a car where she was a passenger, that he was intoxicated and that he said something “not taken too kindly” by others in the car.

Marshall said a front-seat passenger stepped from the vehicle to try to get Buck to calm down and Buck pulled a knife, striking the lip and right ear of the victim, who was from South China.

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Police were called to MaineGeneral Medical Center to investigate a report of a stabbing.

No knife was recovered, Marshall said.

The victim required stitches, Marshall said, adding that he did not want to be present for Buck’s hearing and that he had had a prior bad experience at the court.

Buck’s attorney, Matthew Morgan, said there had been a protection from harassment hearing at which Buck prevailed.

Buck has previous felony and misdemeanor convictions.

If he successfully completes the deferred disposition requirements, he is expected to return to court on Jan. 15, 2019, and plead guilty to assault for a fine and a sentence of several days, which he already has served. If he fails to complete it, Marshall said, Buck would be subject to any sentence up to five years on the felony offense.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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