LEWISTON — The fifth, and last, of five defendants charged with robbing a Poland teenager at his home last month appeared in court Monday on a felony charge.
Isaiah Strong-Gassama, 20, of 401 Death Valley Road in Minot was in custody when he went before a judge at 8th District Court, but he didn’t enter a plea on the Class A crime that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Isaiah Strong-Gassama
A felony charge can only proceed to trial if or when a grand jury hands up an indictment on that charge. At that time, the defendant can be arraigned on the felony charge and enter a plea.
A judge ordered bail be set at $6,000 cash. If Strong-Gassama were to be released from Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn, he would be barred from having dangerous weapons, including firearms, and could be searched at random for them anytime. He also would not be able to have any contact with his four co-defendants who have already appeared in court.
As of Tuesday evening, he had not posted bail.
According to an affidavit in court files, Strong-Gassama was one of five people who drove to an Empire Road home in Poland on Oct. 26. The group accused the victim of slashing tires and had been seeking revenge, authorities said.
One of the teens, Jordin Small, 18, of Poland had pulled a revolver from his waistband and pushed the victim with it, breaking his eyeglasses, the affidavit said. Strong-Gassama told the victim to swear on his dog’s life he hadn’t slashed any tires. At that point, Small put the gun to the head of the victim’s dog.
Strong-Gassama, Small and John Wright, 18, of Auburn walked down into the victim’s basement seeking marijuana, according to the affidavit. Strong-Gassama took a jar of the drug along with smoking paraphernalia before leaving. Small took a PlayStation 3. Someone took the victim’s iPhone.
The group returned to Strong-Gassama’s Minot home where they watched a Maine State Police trooper drive past. Strong-Gassama and Small ran into nearby woods.
Strong-Gassama was arrested on Friday and charged with felony robbery.
At Strong-Gassama’s home, state police recovered Mason jars of marijuana, a Sony PlayStation 3 and a silver revolver fitting the description given by the victim.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
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