FARMINGTON —  A former Jay man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to hitting his former girlfriend on the head with a cane on New Year’s Eve last year.

Ronald Tarckini, 66, of Rumford, who has been in custody since his arrest, entered not guilty pleas in Franklin County Superior Court to a felony charge of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of refusing to submit to arrest.

He was indicted on the charges Jan. 18.

Jay police responded to a disturbance at 2 Barker St. late on Dec. 31, 2017, and found a woman with a severe head wound and covered in blood, Police Chief Richard Caton IV said previously. The woman was taken to a Farmington hospital.

Judge Rick Lawrence set personal recognizance bail with a supervised release agreement. Conditions include Tarckini being barred from being in Jay, from driving a vehicle unless properly licensed, and from having contact with his ex-girlfriend, Debra Therrien.

Before bail was set, Therrien said in court Tuesday that Tarckini should stay in jail.

“I am afraid of him. I think he is going to retaliate,”  Therrien said. “He has no concept of the law.”

The state does have concerns, Deputy District Attorney James Andrews said. But with a supervised release agreement, Tarckini’s medical condition and his frailty, he is not going to commit a violent act, Andrews said.

Tarckini, who is being represented by attorney George Hess, used a walker to get around in court.

A conviction on the felony assault charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. A conviction on the misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to 364 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

Ronald Tarckini (Franklin County Detention Center)