AUGUSTA — A Chelsea man who allegedly attacked another man at a gravel pit with a machete was indicted on felony assault charges.
Elias M. Rodriguez, 25, of Chelsea, allegedly chopped at another man with an 18-inch rusty machete multiple times. The attack caused a laceration that later required stitches, and enough blood loss that the man later passed out after refusing a blood transfusion at the hospital. Emergency room workers told police the man’s blood pressure was so low that he could have died.
The 22-year-old victim told police when Rodriguez first attempted to strike him with the wooden-handled machete he put up his arm to block the strike and, if he hadn’t done so, he would have been hit in the head with the machete.
The victim, and a 19-year-old man with him, told police they didn’t know the man who had attacked them, and that they had gone to the gravel pit parking lot to smoke marijuana, around 6 p.m. Feb. 10, and Rodriguez came in after them.
Police, however, according to an affidavit filed by Augusta police Detective Benjamin Murtiff, learned from the mother of the 19-year-old man that her son and the man later identified as Rodriguez had gotten into a physical altercation at Taco Bell on Jan. 26. The 19-year-old man allegedly broke the taillight of Rodriguez’s girlfriend’s car in that incident. The man’s mother told police her son was lying about not knowing Rodriguez, because he didn’t want to be labeled a snitch and was worried about retaliation.
Murtiff’s affidavit said the pair involved in the Taco Bell altercation had apparently arranged to meet at the gravel pit on West River Road in Augusta to fight.
The night of the gravel pit incident, Rodriguez allegedly got out of a car holding a machete and confronted the two men. The 22-year-old told police he ran when he saw Rodriguez with the machete, but slipped on ice and fell into a snowbank. He told police Rodriguez ran toward him and with a downward chopping motion attempted to strike him. He said the suspect attempted to strike him several more times, but missed. The victim, who suffered lacerations in the attack, said he was able to kick the suspect in the chest and produce enough space between them to get away.
Rodriguez was indicted on felony charges of elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault by a Kennebec County grand jury, which met April 18 at the Capital Judicial Center.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt but indicates enough evidence exists to move forward toward trial.
Also indicted by the grand jury this month were:
• Thomas J. Allen, 68, of Chelsea, domestic violence aggravated assault, and domestic violence assault, Feb. 25 in Chelsea.
• Jesse Lee Baker, 41, of Augusta, domestic violence criminal threatening, obstructing report of crime or injury, and refusing to submit to arrest, Feb. 28 in Augusta.
• Michael Roger Beaulieu, 43, of Winslow, operating after revocation, and violation of condition of release, Feb. 15 in Sidney.
• Parrish A. Brooks, 33, of Augusta, domestic violence criminal threatening, March 8 in Augusta.
• Theodore Richard Brooks III, 38, of Fairfield, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), Dec. 27, 2023, in Waterville.
• Jesse J. Clement, 40, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), Jan. 10, in Unity Plantation; theft by unauthorized taking, operating after revocation, unauthorized use of property, criminal mischief, and violation of condition of release, Jan. 10, in Albion; and two counts of aggravated criminal mischief, operating after revocation, driving to endanger, leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, and violation of condition of release, Nov. 24, 2023, in Albion.
• Timothy D. Colby, 40, of Augusta, criminal operating under the influence, and operating beyond license condition or restriction, Jan. 25 in Augusta.
• Scott Coogan, 38, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 23, 2023, in Augusta.
• Joshua S. Davis, 35, of Canaan, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), and violation of condition of release Feb. 25 in Waterville.
• Robert Desjardins, 32, transient, aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Sept. 12, 2023, in Augusta.
• Richard A. Dumond, 30, of Chelsea, receiving stolen property, aggravated criminal mischief, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), criminal simulation, violation of a protective order, violation of condition of release, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, Feb. 15 in Chelsea.
• Kyle R. Farmer, 25, of Litchfield, domestic violence assault, March 8 in Litchfield.
• Gladys Fowler, 42, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 23, 2023, in Augusta; theft by unauthorized taking, Oct. 17, 2023, in Waterville; and theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 7, 2023, in Augusta.
• Adrian J. Gariepy, 52, of Fairfield, theft by unauthorized taking, and criminal mischief, June 16, 2023, in Waterville.
• Rebecca Giles, 47, of Windsor, operating after revocation, failure to give correct name, and violation of condition of release, Feb. 24 in Randolph.
• Casey L. Glidden, 42, of Vassalboro, robbery, Jan. 18 in Waterville.
• Michael R. Goodwin, 41, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl), Jan. 9 in Waterville.
• Michael J. Gorman, 54, of Wayne, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and violation of condition of release, Feb. 22 in Wayne.
• Nicholas Hart, 37, of Searsport, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), operating after suspension, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), Jan. 31 in Hallowell.
• Dale E. Havens Sr., 44, of Brunswick, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), Dec. 19, 2023, in Waterville.
• Rebee Marie Jurdak, 38, of Waterville, violation of condition of release, Feb. 22 in Waterville.
• Sara M.E. Kalloch, 29, of Augusta, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), Nov. 14, 2023, in Waterville.
• Christopher T. LaPlante, 34, of Hartland, theft by unauthorized taking, burglary of a motor vehicle, and misuse of identification, Dec. 29, 2023, in Augusta.
• Xiao Y. Leung, 47, of Quincy, Massachusetts, unlawful possession of schedule Z drugs (marijuana in excess of 20 pounds), Nov. 8, 2023, in Sidney.
• Daniel W. Lyford, 33, of Searsport, theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 20, 2023, in China; and theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 20, 2023, in Augusta.
• Shawn Allan McKeil, 41, of Vassalboro, domestic violence terrorizing, violation of condition of release, and two counts of harassment by telephone or electronic communication device, Sept. 29, 2023, in Winslow.
• Jacob D. Nelson, 27, of Vassalboro, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl), theft by unauthorized taking, and violation of condition of release, Feb. 20 in Augusta.
• Percy S.A. Nickles, 41, of Washington, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), Jan. 4 in Windsor.
• Michael R. Nigro, 26, of Waterville, sexual abuse of a minor, Jan. 11 in Waterville.
• Eric Norton, 32, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 10, 2023, in Augusta; unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 16, 2023, in Augusta; and unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Dec. 28, 2023, in Augusta.
• Jacob Ryan Oyler, 37, of South China, criminal operating under the influence, falsifying physical evidence, operating beyond license condition or restriction, and operating without a license, Jan. 11 in China.
• Gene E. Perry, 47, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking, Oct. 14, 2023, in Augusta.
• Joshua E. Porfirio, 34, of Benton, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (cocaine), and trafficking in prison contraband, March 5 in Augusta; and criminal operating under the influence, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), March 5 in Benton.
• Mitchell J. Pratt, 52, of China, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and threatening display of weapon, March 10 in Waterville.
• Gregory Thomas Roe, 38, of Vienna, burglary, Jan. 25 in Manchester; theft by unauthorized taking, and burglary of a motor vehicle, on or between Jan. 18-25 in Manchester; theft by unauthorized taking, and burglary of a motor vehicle, on or between Jan. 12-20 in Chelsea; theft by unauthorized taking, and burglary of a motor vehicle, Jan. 19 in Farmingdale; burglary of a motor vehicle, Jan. 20 in Randolph; burglary of a motor vehicle, theft by unauthorized taking, burglary of a motor vehicle, and theft by unauthorized taking, Feb. 10 in Augusta; burglary of a motor vehicle, and theft by unauthorized taking, on or between Feb. 7-8 in Augusta; burglary of a motor vehicle, and theft by unauthorized taking, Feb. 7 in Augusta; theft by unauthorized taking, and misuse of identification, Feb. 10 in Augusta; theft by unauthorized taking, and misuse of identification, Feb. 8 in Augusta; and stealing drugs, on or about Feb. 7-8 in Augusta.
• William K. Seabron, 32, of Augusta, aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), Jan. 31 in Hallowell; and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), and trafficking in prison contraband, Feb. 1 in Augusta.
• Brittany Leigh Small, 38, of Augusta, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (heroin), and aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), March 2 in Augusta.
• Peter R. Speropolous Jr., 31, of Oakland, violation of a protective order, and violation of condition of release, Jan. 20 in Waterville.
• Orin J. Stevens, 69, of Augusta, theft by deception, on or between April 13 and Oct. 31, 2023, in Vassalboro.
• Ryan Toothaker, 39, of Waterville, unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 24, 2023, in Waterville; and unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 28, 2023, in Waterville.
• Frank L. Tripp, 55, of Augusta, domestic violence assault, and obstructing report of crime or injury, on or between Feb. 13-16 in Augusta.
• Kimball A. Walker, 56, of Waterville, operating after revocation, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl), Sept 19, 2023, in China.
• Treigh L. Wells, 25, of Augusta, domestic violence assault, March 6 in Augusta.
• Deanna Widdecomb, 36, of Union, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), Jan. 31 in Hallowell.
• Gerald L. Wotton, 59, of Pownal, theft by unauthorized taking, and violation of condition of release, Aug. 21, 2023, in Augusta.
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