Man who shot repeatedly at car after domestic dispute in Waterville to serve five years in prison

AUGUSTA — A man who fired more than a dozen gunshots at a woman as she and another woman fled in a car he riddled with bullets has been sentenced to serve five years in prison.

Maurice Watkins-Cundiff, 31, pleaded guilty Thursday at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta to charges of attempted elevated aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and violation of condition of release.

Watkins-Cundiff entered his plea in a negotiated deal that dismissed an attempted murder charge that prosecutors had sought initially.

Watkins-Cundiff was sentenced to nine years in prison, with all but five years suspended, and three years of probation. If he follows the terms of his probation, he would serve five years behind bars. He could face the full nine years if he violates terms of his probation.

Watkins-Cundiff had gotten into a domestic dispute with a woman who was his former intimate partner, Assistant District Attorney Amanda Seekins said in court. After the woman got into a car with another woman, he fired multiple gunshots at the vehicle, although the woman was able to put the car into gear and drive away.

Police said they found 13 bullet casings at the Pleasant Street scene, and later found the vehicle with multiple bullet holes in its front bumper, hood and lower windshield.

Police responding to the incident April 10, 2022, saw a dark sports car driving down the street with no lights on, according to then-Waterville Deputy Chief William L. Bonney, now the city’s police chief.

Waterville officers stopped the vehicle on Western Avenue and arrested Watkins-Cundiff on suspicion of operating under the influence.

Watkins-Cundiff denied involvement in the gunfire and said he was not at the residence where it had occurred.

Using a police dog, officers located a gun a short distance away. They later determined the weapon had been used in the gunfire and had Watkins-Cundiff’s DNA on it.

Police also located a baseball cap in the driveway on which Watkins-Cundiff’s DNA was found and that he had been photographed wearing.

Watkins-Cundiff was initially charged with several crimes, including attempted murder. That and several other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement that Seekins said was negotiated after a judicial settlement conference.

Watkins-Cundiff was sentenced to nine years, with all but five years suspended, on the attempted elevated aggravated assault charge; five years on the possession of a firearm by a prohibited person charge; and three years on a violating a condition of release charge. The sentences are to be served concurrent with the attempted elevated aggravated assault sentence.

Seekins said Watkins-Cundiff is not allowed to possess a firearm because he has a felony conviction in Massachusetts. He violated a condition of release by calling the main victim in the case from jail.

Probation conditions include that Watkins-Cundiff not use or possess dangerous weapons, not use or possess illegal drugs or alcohol, submit to random searches by authorities, take part in a domestic violence intervention program, undergo substance abuse evaluation and counseling, participate in domestic violence court as long as he resides in Maine and have no contact with his two victims.

Lisa Whittier, Watkins-Cundiff’s lawyer, answered yes when Judge Daniel Mitchell asked if she felt Watkins-Cundiff was making a reasonable decision in agreeing to plead guilty to the crimes. Watkins-Cundiff indicated that if the case went to trial, he could be found guilty.