LEWISTON — An Auburn man is expected to argue he can’t pay a Lewiston hospital the nearly $7,000 bill his stabbing victim incurred a year ago.

Jeremy Trudeau, 26, of 92 Bennett Ave. was convicted of aggravated assault in an October plea agreement. He was sentenced in 8th District Court to 42 months, with 33 months suspended, plus three years of probation. During probation, he must not have any firearms or dangerous weapons and must complete psychological counseling and treatment as an outpatient. He was ordered to have no contact with McLellan.

He was indicted on the charge in July by an Androscoggin County grand jury in the May 1 stabbing of Jonathan McLellan, 23, of 125 Pierce St.

McLellan was treated in the emergency room at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for lacerations to his forearm, back, shoulder and upper arm that had to be closed with a dozen staples, police said.

In an affidavit, police wrote that Trudeau had come to McLellan’s neighborhood having been rumored to be warning him to “watch his back.” McClellan left his apartment and walked toward Trudeau, Lewiston Police Detective Roland Godbout wrote.

When McLellan said to Trudeau, “I have to watch my back,” Trudeau “immediately came after him.” Trudeau struck out at McLellan in the back after trying to kick him and swing an arm at him. McLellan felt a “sharp pain to his back.”

He tried to fight, but could see his arm was cut and was “now bleeding profusely,” Godbout wrote.

McLellan fell backward onto the pavement. He saw Trudeau holding a silver-handled knife with a blade about 4 inches long.

A friend who said he let Trudeau stay with him told police that Trudeau told him he’d been “jumped” in Lewiston and threatened with violence. Trudeau said he took out his knife in self-defense and may have cut the man. Trudeau had sustained a cut to the palm of his left hand that was closed with several stitches.

He told local police that he and McLellan had known each other for several years and disliked each other because of a girl. Trudeau said McLellan had threatened to “break every bone” in his body. On the sidewalk, Trudeau said he saw McLellan approaching and “threatening to kick his ass,” Godbout wrote. After exchanging blows and feeling a cut to his hand, Trudeau pulled a steak knife from his pocket and started stabbing McLellan, Godbout wrote. He turned over to police an 8-inch steak knife with a 4-inch blade.

Trudeau was ordered to pay up to $7,776.40 to the hospital where McLellan was treated. A hearing was to be set to determine the amount he must pay and his ability to pay.

A hearing on restitution is scheduled for June 28 in 8th District Court. 

cwilliams@sunjournal.com