AUGUSTA — A former Waterville man will spend 10 years behind bars for torturing his girlfriend while keeping her prisoner for several days in an Augusta apartment.

Robert Allan Horr, 51, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Kennebec County Superior Court to charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault, “which manifested extreme indifference to the value of human life,” according to the indictment against Horr.

The victim, a 58-year-old woman, told Justice Michaela Murphy that she still suffers from the effects of the trauma she endured between July 31 and Aug. 2, in the couple’s apartment on Water Street in Augusta.

“This is an extremely significant domestic violence case — one of the worst cases we’ve seen in a long time,” said acting District Attorney Alan Kelley. “These charges were the maximum we could charge under the law.”

The woman escaped to a neighbor’s for help while Horr was asleep, and she was treated at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta for a broken wrist and cigarette burns to her legs and one arm, as well as other injuries.

She said Wednesday that Horr had asked her to marry him and that she still loved him, but did not want to see him. The woman told police she and Horr had been in a relationship for six months.

Horr, who lived in Waterville and Skowhegan before moving to Augusta, had undergone two psychological evaluations while he was in custody.

An affidavit by Augusta Police Officer Nathan Walker lists the details of the offenses and the victim’s injuries.

The victim told Walker that Horr kept her from leaving by forcing her to remain in a back bedroom and keeping her away from windows and doors. She said Horr broke her wrist on July 31 when she tried to make food. He also punched and kicked her, breaking her false teeth.

The next day, she told police, Horr drank a gallon of coffee brandy and continued to strike her, and the following day he told her “he was going to poke her eyes out and feed them to her.”

Walker documented cuts that appeared to be fingermarks around the woman’s eyes.

Police found Horr still in the apartment and arrested him on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and domestic violence terrorizing as well as on a warrant charging him with violating probation on a Somerset County conviction. Horr previously lived in Waterville and Skowhegan before moving to Augusta.

Horr told police he and his girlfriend had been drinking all weekend and that he blacked out when he drank and he didn’t remember whether he kept the woman from leaving the apartment.

“He did tell the judge today he had zero recall,” said Horr’s attorney, Kevin Sullivan.

Horr was sentenced to an additional 10 years, all suspended, with four years’ probation, which follows the first 10-year term.

He also pleaded guilty Wednesday to violating probation. Horr was ordered to pay up to $500 restitution.

Charges of domestic violence terrorizing and criminal restraint were dismissed in exchange for the guilty pleas.

“We obtained a maxim incarceration of 10 years on the kidnapping and a consecutive 10-year suspended sentence on the aggravated assault,” Kelley said. “The extreme behavior on Horr’s part justified the imposition of this kind of sentence.”

Kelley said some of elements are common to other domestic violence cases in which the victim still has an emotional connection to the abuser.

“The victim said she still loves this man despite everything he’s done to her,” Kelley said. “This case is a good example of how extreme domestic violence can become short of homicide.”

Kelley said Horr had previous convictions for assault, burglary, operating under the influence and theft, but nothing similar to this domestic violence incident. Kelley noted that Gov. Paul LePage held a ceremonial bill signing Tuesday on legislation aimed at offering more protections and support for victims of domestic violence.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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