AUGUSTA — An Oregon man who police allege sexually assaulted his girlfriend, struck her in the head with a beer bottle and strangled her at an Augusta hotel room in the presence of their young son was indicted by a grand jury on multiple assault charges.
Damian E. Sanchez, 26, of Roseburg, Oregon, was indicted on three counts of Class B aggravated assault, one count of Class A gross sexual assault and one count of Class E theft by unauthorized taking, in connection to the Feb. 2 incident.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but indicates enough evidence exists for a case to move forward to trial.
Sanchez, according to an affidavit filed by Augusta Detective Derek Daley, came to Augusta with his girlfriend and their then 1-year-old son from Oregon to the Super 8 hotel on Western Avenue.
Sanchez became angry with the woman after learning she planned to leave with their son and return to Oregon with a friend.
The victim told police Sanchez began assaulting her at their hotel room, putting both hands around her neck and attempting to strangle her while holding her down on the bed. He then allegedly demanded to have sex with her, and when she said no, he removed her pants and underwear and sexually assaulted her.
After the alleged sexual assault ended, they argued and, the woman said, Sanchez hit her on the head with a beer bottle he had been holding by the neck, like a club. It broke, causing her to fall forward onto the bed. He then allegedly strangled her again, although she did not lose consciousness, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also states the couple’s child slept through most of the ordeal but awoke when his mother was allegedly struck by the beer bottle. Police said they found droplets of blood on the child and shards of glass on the bed where he had been sleeping.
Sanchez, who allegedly stole the woman’s debit card, eventually left in her car after she told him to take it and leave. The woman then reportedly took her son and went to see a friend, another woman staying at the motel.
The affidavit states the alleged victim was examined at MaineGeneral Medical Center, where she was told she had two fractures of her orbital bone, the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are located.
Augusta police issued a warrant for Sanchez, who went missing and was not located until his arrest in Oregon.
Augusta Detectives Christopher Guay and Derek Daley traveled to Oregon in August — after Sanchez was extradited — to return him to Maine to face charges.
Chief Jared Mills said it is not unusual for the city’s detectives to travel out of state to extradite suspects in serious crimes back to Maine. He said when the department’s officers aren’t able to do so, Kennebec County Sheriff’s deputies perform the extradition.
Also indicted by a Kennebec County Grand Jury, which met Oct. 20 and 21, were:
• Michael William Atchison, 28, of South China, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, criminal operating under the influence and violation of condition of release, July 27 in Gardiner.
• Michelle L. Barto, 41, of Augusta, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing heroin), violation of condition of release and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (heroin), July 9 in Augusta.
• Christopher Beckwith, 24, of Windsor, operating after revocation and violation of condition of release, June 19 in Augusta.
• Antelsy May Bellows, 44, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (Gabapentin) and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (Lorazepam), Aug. 25 in Waterville.
• Randy M. Boivin, 41, of Waterville, operating after revocation, May 6 in Waterville.
• George W. Bragdon, 29, of Mount Vernon, eluding an officer and criminal speed, June 18 in Mount Vernon.
• Emlyn B. Brooks-Hughes, 27, of Randolph, unauthorized use of property, Aug. 1 in Randolph.
• Robert A. Brown Jr., 54, of Portland, operating after revocation, failure to give correct name, operating an unregistered vehicle and violation of condition of release, July 29 in West Gardiner.
• Thomas C. Brown, 51, of Randolph, two counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, June 1 in Randolph.
• Lyle E. Burnham Jr., 43, of Belgrade, violation of condition of release, on or between June 29 and July 15, in Augusta; violation of condition of release, on or between July 19 and Aug. 2, in Augusta; and improper contact with victim pre-bail, June 28 in Augusta.
• Whitney David Chadbourne, 39, of Waterville, criminal operating under the influence, operating after suspension and improper plates, June 1 in Winslow.
• Richard T. Campo, 36, of Washington, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing heroin) and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine), June 27 in Waterville.
• Crystal Theresa Cougle, 30, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder) and criminal mischief, May 31 in Waterville.
• Richard J. Courtney, 34, of Windsor, operating after revocation, Sept. 15 in Winslow.
• James L. Cummings, 34, of Mount Vernon, domestic violence assault, June 24 in Mount Vernon.
• James W. Dingus, 40, of Augusta, aggravated assault and terrorizing, Aug. 6 in Augusta.
• John F. Dumas, 57, of Augusta, criminal operating under the influence and operating beyond license condition or restriction, June 11 in Augusta.
• David D. Dyer, 51, of Vassalboro, criminal operating under the influence, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation and violation of condition of release, Aug. 20 in Winslow; and criminal operating under the influence and aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, July 20 in Waterville.
• Aaron Moses Esposito, 39, of Waterville, aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, terrorizing and violation of condition of release, Aug. 1 in Waterville.
• Jason A. Gilbert, 34, of Waterville, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (acid), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate), and criminal forfeiture of $451, Sept. 4 in Waterville.
• Rebecca Giles, 45, of Windsor, operating after revocation and violation of condition of release, July 12 in Augusta.
• Nathan I. Greenleaf, 35, of Rome, three counts of theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 5 in Rome.
• Sherry Ann Googe, 66, of Fairfield, theft by unauthorized taking, May 4 in Waterville.
• Michael E. Grant, 38, of Oakland, aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), violation of condition of release and criminal forfeiture of $200, Aug. 30 in Waterville.
• Kristine E. Hayes, 33, of Fairfield, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), Jan. 1 in Waterville.
• Joshua R.M. Hine, 29, of Temple, theft by deception and violation of condition of release, July 15 in Belgrade.
• Shayne D. Humphrey, 29, of Waterville, domestic violence assault, violation of a protective order and criminal mischief, July 21 in Waterville.
• Thomas A. Kirchner Jr., 36, of Augusta, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and assault, Aug. 13 in Augusta.
• Christopher W. Knapp, 43, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release, Aug. 1 in Augusta.
• David W. Knox, 55, of Augusta, criminal operating under the influence, operating after suspension, violation of condition of release and improper plates, July 4 in Chelsea.
• Rebecca Lee, 48, of Wayne, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (methamphetamine), June 8 in Wayne; unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (methamphetamine), June 15 in Wayne; unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (methamphetamine), June 23 in Wayne; and unlawful possession of schedule W drugs (methamphetamine) and falsifying physical evidence, June 27 in Wayne.
• Michael A. Lonnee, 38, of Gardiner, operating after revocation and violation of condition of release, June 3 in China.
• Jaimie A. Manganella, 36, of Detroit, operating after revocation, May 21 in Windsor; and refusing to submit to arrest, operating after revocation, operating without a license and failure to give correct name, Aug. 29 in Augusta.
• Joseph P. Manganella, 41, of Windsor, tampering with a victim and violation of condition of release, on or between July 28 and July 29, in Waterville.
• Mathew L. Martin-Evans, 38, of Waterville, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), operating after revocation, violation of condition of release and failure to give correct name, June 24 in Waterville.
• Donald R. Mitchell, 29, of Newport, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), May 5 in Winslow.
• Hunter Newton, 22, of Windsor, violation of conditions of release, Aug. 3 in Windsor.
• Todd L. Overlock, 49, of Winslow, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (fentanyl), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine) and violation of condition of release, March 14 in Waterville; and unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), April 28 in Winslow.
• Derek J. Peaslee, 32, of Augusta, domestic violence assault and disorderly conduct, Aug. 9 in Augusta.
• Travis Riley, 36, of Hardenville, Missouri, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder) and refusing to submit to arrest, Aug. 18 in Waterville.
• Nicholas A. Sapiel, 27, of Albion, operating after revocation and operating an unregistered vehicle, June 9 in China; and operating after revocation, June 8 in Waterville.
• Dustin J. Schultz, 24, of Madison, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl), Aug. 18 in Waterville.
• Alexcia C. Shields, 20, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (Suboxone) and violation of condition of release, Aug. 16 in Waterville.
• Eric J. Simmons, 35, of Pittston, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), operating after suspension and operating without a license, Jan. 11 in Augusta.
• Janessa J. Smart-Arbour, 21, of Waterville, two counts of violation of condition of release, Aug. 5 in Waterville.
• Clayton Alexander Turner, 27, of Albion, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing heroin) and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine), Jan. 19 in Winslow.
• Anthony Waack, 33, of Augusta, escape, July 13 in Augusta.
• Kyle J. Weeks, 33, of Oakland, aggravated forgery and forgery, May 13 in Sidney.
• Zakari Angelo Whittier, 41, of Waterville, domestic violence assault, July 2 in Waterville.
• Daniel Wilson, 33, of Lewiston, operating after revocation, April 17 in Litchfield and burglary and theft by unauthorized taking, April 16 in Litchfield.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
