Oakland police have made an arrest in the attack against two young girls this month.
David M. Devine, 25, of Oakland has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault.
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Police say he attacked and seriously injured the daughters of his girlfriend in their Oakland home, police said.
Oakland police Capt. Rick Stubbert described the assault as disturbing.
“I’ve been living this case for the last two weeks,” Stubbert said.
On May 11, someone living at an Oak Street residence dialed 911 and said that another household member had attacked the girls. The attack was over by the time the call was placed, Stubbert said.
Oakland police Officer Jeff Coombs responded to the initial call, and the girls were first taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for treatment.
Maeghan Maloney, the district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties, said Devine blamed the attack on a 4-year-old child in the house. Devine told police that the older child had injured the children with a lightweight plastic toy bat.
“The injuries are so severe that the story isn’t consistent with the medical report,” Maloney said.
Devine is being held in the Kennebec County jail in Augusta without bail until Tuesday, when he will appear before a judge.
“For someone to attack two children who are completely defenseless puts that person in an entirely different category from someone who attacks a person who can defend himself,” she said. “That is why we’ll be asking for the highest bail that we can on Tuesday. He’s dangerous.”
Stubbert said he has not determined yet whether a weapon was used in the attack.
Maloney said that precautions were taken to make sure the children would be safe until Devine was taken into custody. She said the toddlers are currently living with a family member; Stubbert said the state Department of Health and Human Services also is involved.
Devine was arrested about 10:45 a.m. Friday by Coombs and Stubbert at his workplace, a Waterville business. The Waterville Police Department assisted in the arrest.
The aggravated assault charges are Class B crimes, punishable under Maine law by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine for each count.
Devine also was charged with violating conditions of release involving a previous case.
In cases of felony assault, the charges could change depending on the victim’s medical condition, Maloney said.
Devine is scheduled to appear at 8 a.m. July 29 at Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta.
He has been arrested at least three times in the past year.
On a Friday night in September, Devine was arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault on West Pleasant Street; and on a Saturday night in March, he was arrested on a charge of operating under the influence on Kennedy Memorial Drive. Those cases have not been adjudicated.
Maloney said the September assault charge involved a an adult female victim who was not involved with this case.
Maloney said that in March, Devine also was charged with unlawful possession of a scheduled drug, morphine, and violation of conditions of release.
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling can be contacted at 861-9287 or at:
mhhetling@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @hh_matt
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