AUGUSTA — A Randolph man convicted of aggravated assault for beating and seriously injuring a man in September 2012 was sentenced Monday to five years in jail, with all but eight months suspended, and three years’ probation.

William E. Blodgett Jr., 21, apologized to the victim, Randall Wright.

“I never intended to harm anyone, the purpose of living with Randy was only to help him financially and emotionally in his time of need,” Blodgett wrote in a note filed with the case in Kennebec County Superior Court.

Blodgett was convicted by a jury in May of one count of aggravated assault. Justice Michaela Murphy acquitted him at that time of a second count of the same charge, which indicated the injury was committed with “extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

Conditions of probation ban Blodgett from contact with Wright and from having alcohol and drugs. Blodgett also is required to undergo substance abuse counseling and treatment as well as anger management.

Blodgett had no prior criminal record, and attorney Ronald Bourget, who represented Blodgett at the sentencing hearing, had suggested a two-year sentence with all but 60 to 90 days suspended, and three years’ probation.

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Wright filed a victim impact statement with the court, saying he fears his eye is damaged permanently and that he lost his job as a result of his injuries because he needed months to recuperate.

Blodgett and his girlfriend, Mallory L. Cote, 23, who was identified as Wright’s niece, were each charged with aggravated assault following the Sept. 3, 2012, beating that occurred after Cote and Wright began arguing, then pushing each other.

“During the assault, I was laughed at, tortured, beaten and scared for my life,” Wright told the judge in writing. Wright said when he tried to use his phone to call for help, they took it away from him and started to beat him with it. He said the beating lasted two hours.

A month after Blodgett’s conviction, Cote pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assault, but she will be able to withdraw that plea next June if she successfully completes a one-year deferred-disposition program. She also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to provide correct name, address and date of birth in connection with the same incident.

Under the terms of Cote’s deferred disposition, she is banned from contact with Wright and must pay a $25 monthly supervision fee to the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office. If Cote is successful, she will be allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge carrying a sentence of 364 days in jail, with all but 90 days suspended, one year of administrative release and $300 in fines and restitution. She was sentenced to a concurrent 90 days in jail for giving incorrect information to police at the scene.

 

Betty Adams can be contacted at 621-5631or at:

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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