FARMINGTON — A local man accused of beating a 23-year-old man with a metal flashlight on Jan. 8 was indicted Thursday.

Justin M. Crowley-Smilek, 27, of Farmington was indicted on a felony charge of aggravated assault.

A conviction on the charge carries up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Farmington police Chief Jack Peck said in January that a Franklin County man told police he had too much to drink and was sleeping in his car parked in the Front Street Tavern parking lot, when he realized two men had gotten in and asked for a ride.

The victim refused to give them a ride, Peck had said, and asked them to leave or he was calling 911. They then offered to buy the vehicle, he said.

While the victim was attempting to call 911, one of the men, Crowley-Smilek, opened the door and started beating the victim over the head and face, Peck said.

The victim’s face and head were covered with blood and he had facial injuries, Peck said previously.

About 15 minutes later, another report of a fight at 401 High St. was reported. Police officer William Tanner responded to that one while Sgt. Peter Barton stayed behind interviewing the victim.

When Tanner arrived someone said that’s the person who assaulted someone in the Front Street Tavern lot, Peck said.

Crowley-Smilek was the one the witness was referring to, Peck said. His hands and pants were covered in blood, he said.

According to Tanner’s affidavit filed with the court, when he responded to Front Street Tavern, he saw a victim with “major head trauma.”

When he responded to the High Street fight, he realized that Crowley-Smilek had been involved in the Front Street fight, the affidavit stated.

Crowley-Smilek admitted to assaulting the victim with his “SureFire” flashlight, Tanner wrote. The flashlight was also covered in blood, he wrote.

The victim was taken to a hospital and treated and released.

Crowley-Smilek is expected to be arraigned on the charge on Friday, May 20, at Franklin County Superior Court in Farmington.

dperry@sunjournal.com