AUGUSTA — A defendant awaiting trial on a murder charge made an initial court appearance Tuesday on charges of assaulting a jail guard, aggravated criminal mischief and terrorizing.

David B. Silva Jr., 33, previously had refused to go to court on the new charges, which were filed July 26.

He appeared by video Tuesday from the Kennebec County jail with attorney Steven Brochu. The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Brad Grant and Justice Michaela Murphy were in Kennebec County Superior Court. Silva did not enter a plea to the charges.

He is accused of hitting a jail guard in the chest with his head, threatening to kill another guard and smearing feces in the cell.

Silva’s next hearing date on the assault and other charges is scheduled for Oct. 30. Bail was set at $2,000.

Records show Silva was charged in October 2011 with terrorizing and failure to sign a summons and complaint. The victim was the same officer Silva is accused of assaulting more recently.

He is being held without bail on charges of murder, arson, and robbery in connection with the death of Robert A. Orr, of Readfield, on Feb. 8, 2011.

Silva and his girlfriend were living in Orr’s home at the time. Investigators say Silva shot Orr in the head, then set the house on fire to try to conceal both the murder and the robbery.

A trial in that case is set tentatively for November, according to Deputy Attorney General William Stokes, whose office is prosecuting that case.

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