AUGUSTA — A city man was ordered to spend nine months in jail for violating probation by ramming his vehicle into his girlfriend’s car and into a second vehicle while he was drunk, kicking in his girlfriend’s apartment door, and breaking her cellphone.

The Feb. 13 incident occurred while Jacob L. Pouliot, 24, formerly of Randolph, was on probation for reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon for firing a gun at a car window April 3, 2011, where the bullet ricocheted and struck a bystander in the leg. He was sentenced on that offense to five years in jail with all but nine months suspended and two years’ probation.

Assistant District Attorney Frayla Schoenfeld told a judge Friday in Kennebec County Superior Court Pouliot arguably could have been using his vehicle as a dangerous weapon in the February incident that occurred on South Chestnut Street in Augusta. Pouliot was originally charged with domestic violence, but the district attorney’s office did not pursue that charge.

Schoenfeld sought a nine-month jail sentence for the probation violation, she said, partly so Pouliot could enroll in and complete the six-month Criminogenic Addiction & Recovery Academy, known as CARA, at the jail. The program addresses substance abuse and helps inmates transition back into society.

Pouliot’s attorney, Walter McKee, asked Justice Michaela Murphy to limit the sentence to the 75 days Pouliot has been held since his arrest Feb. 13 when his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.13, which led to the operating under the influence charge in addition to the criminal mischief charge. “The 75 days is appropriate and a significant sanction,” McKee said.

McKee said the damage to the vehicles was not as high as originally believed, which is why the charges were brought as misdemeanors.

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Murphy sided with the prosecutor, saying the lesser sentence might have been appropriate for someone who was not on probation.

Murphy said it appears that Pouliot has problems with alcohol and impulse control, and she wanted him to have the option of enrolling in the CARA program.

For the new criminal conduct, Murphy ordered Pouliot to serve a concurrent six months in jail.

She also ordered him held on $1,000 bail on a charge of assault on an officer stemming from a March 17 incident at the jail. He is to be in court on June 24 in connection with that charge.

In addition to the jail time, Pouliot’s license was suspended for 150 days and he was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $250 restitution.

Betty Adams can be contacted at 621-5631 or at badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

 


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