AUGUSTA — A Waterville man was convicted of slamming a metal baseball bat into a woman and released on probation, and 11 hours later he was back behind bars after assaulting a woman whom he lived with.

Because of the new domestic violence assault charge, 33-year-old Tyheem Walker, whose first name is also spelled “Tyheen” in court documents, was ordered to serve three years of the sentence that had been suspended previously for the aggravated assault with the bat.

That is to be followed by sentence of 364 days in jail, with all but 196 days suspended, and two years of probation for the domestic violence assault that occurred Dec. 14, 2017, in Waterville.

At a hearing Thursday at the Capital Judicial Center, the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Michael Madigan, called Walker “a threat to public safety” when arguing for the judge to impose a longer period of the suspended sentence.

“It was literally hours from his release on the unsuspended potion of his sentence before he was arrested on new charges of domestic violence assault,” Madigan said.

Madigan also listed Walker’s prior convictions in New York for robberies, assault and violation of a protective order.

“We don’t have a lot of information here, but the information we have is all red flags,” Madigan said.

Walker himself wrote to the court in a letter addressed “To Whom It May Concern,” according to his attorney, Lisa Whittier. In it, she said, he writes about having problems with drugs and alcohol.

“I’m writing to show you I’m not giving up on staying clean and sober,” she quoted from a letter. “I’ve put my pride to the side and am asking for help … (After) getting locked up again in less than 12 hours, I took a long look at myself and said something’s got to change.”

The woman listed as the victim of the domestic assault also addressed Justice William Stokes, saying Walker hadn’t hurt her previously in the few years he had been with her. “My 3-year-old cries for him daily. He has an addiction and he needs help. Hearing that letter shows me he’s finally admitting it,” the woman wrote.

Madigan told the judge that as soon as Walker got to jail, he contacted the victim, calling her 17 times in violation of a bail condition prohibiting contact.

In imposing the sentence, Stokes set probation conditions prohibiting contact between Walker and the two women who were the victims of the separate crimes, from using or possessing alcohol and illegal drugs. Stokes also required Walker to complete a certified batterers’ intervention program.

“He’s a young man, 33,” Stokes said. “If the letters are genuine and he wants to improve himself, this is the way to do it.”

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

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