Auburn man decides against guilty plea

AUBURN — A city man who police say tried to strangle his girlfriend with an electrical cord was expected to plead guilty Friday to related charges but apparently changed his mind.

Mack Williams Jr., 31, of 712 Washington St. North was indicted on charges of attempted murder and two counts each of aggravated assault and terrorizing.

He was scheduled Friday to enter a plea in Androscoggin County Superior Court that had been agreed to in July by prosecutors. Instead, the case will stay on the September trial list, Active-Retired Justice Robert W. Clifford said after confirming with defense attorney Robert Ruffner that his client wasn’t ready to go ahead with the plea hearing.

Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bogue said later that the terms of the plea offered by her office hadn’t changed. If Williams were to decide to move forward with that agreement, prosecutors would be willing to honor it, she said.

Bogue declined to give details about the agreement except to say that the two sides had settled on the charge or charges to which Williams would admit, as well as to the length of time he would serve behind bars.

A judge had ordered a mental examination to determine whether he was competent to stand trial.

He remained in Androscoggin County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 real estate. Should he post bail, he must have no contact with his girlfriend, 25-year-old Jill Weisman.

He also would have to stay away from his former roommate, Christopher Spence, 32, who fought with Williams while trying to protect Weisman, police said in court records. Williams allegedly hit Spence in the head with a toy guitar, breaking the instrument. Williams is also prohibited from having any contact with Brianne Leopold, Spence’s girlfriend, who was present in the Washington Street apartment at the time of the altercation, police said.

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: Mack Williams Jr., charged with attempted murder, talks with his lawyer, Robert Ruffner, prior to the start of proceedings Friday morning in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn.

: Mack Williams Jr., charged with attempted murder, changed his mind at Friday morning’s plea hearing in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn. His case was continued to trial.