PARIS — A former Rumford man who hit a man in the head with a bat during a dispute over a drug debt pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge and will serve nine months in jail.
Police said James Calder, 31, struck a man in the head with a small wooden baseball bat in March 2015 after the man made a racial slur against Calder during a dispute over late payments for marijuana. The blow resulted in a 7-inch cut across the man’s forehead, though injuries were not life-threatening.
On Friday, Calder was sentenced to five years in prison with all but nine months suspended, the high range recommended by his attorney during an open sentencing hearing in Oxford County Unified Court.
In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors for the state dropped a second charge of reckless conduct and amended the assault charge from a Class A, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, to a Class B, punishable by up to 10 years.
A prosecutor for the state did not make a sentencing argument, but noted Calder’s previous criminal convictions, which include assault.
In court, Calder took responsibility for his actions, telling Active-Retired Justice Robert Clifford that he knew he had to pay.
Clifford also revoked 180 days of probation stemming from a 2014 conviction of domestic violence terrorizing in Lewiston District Court. That time will be served concurrent to the nine-month sentence.
Upon his release, Calder will be subject to random search by police and is banned from entering Rumford for two years. He must also complete substance abuse and anger management counseling.
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