PARIS – A Rumford man, who is charged with attacking a woman twice with a rope, was released from Oxford County Jail on $100 bail Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Daniel Soucy, 49, is charged with aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, a Class B felony. The weapon was 25 feet of climbing rope, said Detective Sgt. George Cayer, who made the arrest Monday.
Cayer said the woman, whose identify is being withheld, was found semiconscious Monday after being assaulted Sunday and Monday with a rope. She was hospitalized in Lewiston in stable condition on Monday, Cayer said Wednesday.
Her location and condition could not be confirmed Wednesday.
Police learned about the attacks after a home health registered nurse making daily rounds visited the woman’s house and found her semiconscious on the floor.
“We believe that the victim was on the floor for approximately 24 hours,” Cayer said.
When Med-Care Ambulance responded, a medic spoke to the woman, who said she had been assaulted. Police were notified shortly after noon on Monday, he said.
Due to the extent of her injuries and the evidence found at the scene, which Cayer declined to identify, a search warrant was obtained.
Evidence was recovered and police interviewed Soucy, who was arrested at 6:43 p.m. Monday.
Because of the severity of the crime, bail commissioner Bob Grinnell of Rumford said Wednesday evening that he set bail Monday at $10,000 cash or $125,000 worth of real estate, which Soucy failed to post so he was taken to the Paris jail.
“This female that was assaulted, we didn’t even know if she would live,” Grinnell said of the reason he set high bail. He said he has yet to receive an update on her condition.
However, at Soucy’s initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in Rumford District Court, Judge Ralph L. Tucker reduced bail to $100 cash, and set a probable cause hearing for 8:30 a.m. March 21 in the Rumford court.
Bail commissioner E.C. Shanor of Norway said he collected the bail Wednesday afternoon at the jail and Soucy went free.
Tucker’s action upset both Grinnell and Cayer.
“I feel I took the right steps in protecting the community. I have no explanation as to why bail has been changed,” Grinnell said.
Cayer said he learned about the reduced bail 30 minutes after Soucy was freed.
“The reason for the high bail is the crime,” he said, shaking his head.
Tucker could not be contacted early Wednesday evening.
Cayer said he expects Soucy to be indicted by the next Oxford County grand jury before the March 21 hearing. If that happens, the case would be moved to Oxford County Superior Court in Paris.
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