Franklin County grand jury indicts Jay man in road rage incident

FARMINGTON — A Franklin County grand jury indicted a Jay man Thursday who is accused of pointing a loaded handgun three times at a vehicle with children in it Dec. 10, 2016 as he drove — with a child in his vehicle — from Jay to Wilton and Farmington.

Jacob A. Couture, 27, was indicted on a felony charge of terrorizing with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor charges of threatening display of weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.

The maximum punishment of a conviction of a Class C felony charge is five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The road-rage incident began near the Jay Transfer Station on Route 4 in North Jay, Jay Police Chief Richard Caton IV said previously.

Farmington police Detective Marc Bowering said in December that he and officer Justin Blais stopped a truck driven by Couture near Mt. Blue Plaza on routes 2 and 4.

Couture’s vehicle was following and passing the other vehicle, Caton had said. Witnesses said he pointed the firearm at their vehicle in all three towns, he said.

The two parties were strangers, Bowering had said.

Farmington police searched Couture’s truck and found a loaded handgun that matched the description of the firearm witnesses gave to police, Bowering said.

[email protected]