AUGUSTA — An Augusta man will spend the next two years behind bars for wielding a knife at two police officers responding to a domestic violence complaint that forced a predawn evacuation of an apartment building.
Wayne Matthew Thompson, 47, of Augusta pleaded guilty Wednesday in Kennebec County Superior Court to five charges in connection with the May 28 incident on Penobscot Street in Augusta: two counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and one count each of domestic violence assault, domestic violence terrorizing, and assault.
Police eventually used tear gas to force Thompson from the building.
Two Augusta police officers were named as victims in the first two charges, and a woman who had been living in the apartment where Thompson kept police at bay was listed as the victim of the other three offenses.
Thompson had two previous convictions for assaulting the woman.
In a separate hearing, Robert M. Conklin Jr., 36, of South China, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, with all but 30 months suspended and two years of probation, on charges resulting from a police chase through a construction zone and three municipalities.
Conklin pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated operating-after-habitual-offender revocation, and no contest to eluding an officer and driving to endanger. All charges were connected to a May 6 chase that began when a deputy spotted a vehicle speeding on the wrong side of the road through a Farmingdale construction zone.
The driver, later identified as Conklin, sped off along Maine Avenue through Hallowell toward Augusta, went around Memorial Circle and took side streets before the vehicle struck a house on Brooklawn Avenue. No one was hurt in the chase.
As part of the sentence, Conklin was ordered to pay fines and fees of $3,150, and his driver’s license was suspended for 180 days.
A number of other people were sentenced this week in separate hearings in Kennebec County Superior Court:
* Timothy W. Clark, 42, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs Oct. 19, 2010, in Augusta; 90-day jail sentence, $400 fine.
* Delia Delossantos, 50, of Skowhegan, disorderly conduct, loud unreasonable noise July 22 in Winslow; $500 fine.
* Heath Aaron Dupont, 39, of Farmingdale, burglary and criminal attempt June 5, 2010, in West Gardiner; three-year jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended, two years’ probation.
* Lindsay D. Fortin, 23, of Hallowell, operating under the influence March 1 in Gardiner; $500 fine, 90-day license suspension.
* Brian C. Jones, 42, of Palermo, OUI and operating a vehicle without license, conditional or restricted, March 10 in Waterville; three-year jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended, two years’ probation, $1,100 fine, six-year license and registration suspension.
* Chad Maillet, 35, of Augusta, OUI April 23 in Farmingdale; 10-day alternative sentence, $700 fine, three -year license and registration suspension.
* Benjamin F. Peaslee, 33, of Manchester, assault July 14 in Manchester; 180-day jail sentence, all suspended, one-year administrative release.
* Scott D. Smith, 26, of Monmouth, violating condition of release May 18 in Winthrop; $500 fine.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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