An Augusta man has been charged with beating, slapping and threatening a woman

AUGUSTA – An Augusta man who allegedly punched a woman in the head, punched her so hard she fell and threatened to kill her was arraigned Oct. 16 on domestic violence charges.

Dustin E. Gay, 41, of Augusta, was indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury on two counts of aggravated domestic violence assault, two counts of domestic violence assault and one count of aggravated criminal menacing home.

The woman he allegedly assaulted testified that he hit her in the head and then in the face so hard that she lost her balance and fell, then put the charging cord to her neck and told her he would kill her. According to an affidavit filed by police officer August Erik Maheu, police noticed that during questioning she had a red mark on her neck and blood on her head around an earring and was limping.

The woman also initially claimed that the man hit her with a car, injuring her leg. She later recanted these allegations in a statement to police and stated that he followed her in his car as she walked and she thought he was going to hit her. She said he stopped and tried to pull her into the car, but she fell back, tripped and injured her ankle.

She later told police he hit her on the ankle.

However, one of the two counts of Class B aggravated assault with which Gay was charged still states that he “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused bodily injury” to the woman “by use of a dangerous weapon, motor vehicle.” A category B offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The incidents allegedly occurred on July 21 in Augusta after the couple went to multiple bars and restaurants in the city and argued both while they were out and when they returned home.

An indictment does not constitute a finding of guilt, but it indicates that there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Those indicted by the Kennebec County grand jury, which handed down its findings on Oct. 16, also charged:

• Jeremy Bishop, 50, of Plymouth, operating after recall June 13, in Gardiner.

• Dakoda M. Cole, 28, of Windsor, domestic violence assault, domestic violence assault and obstructing the report of a crime or injury, July 26 in Windsor.

• Brian J. Coutu, 35, of Augusta, unlawful possession of narcotics (cocaine base), operating after suspension, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage and criminal operation under the influence.

• Daniel D. Cram, 41, of Clinton, unlawful possession of narcotics (containing fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of narcotics (cocaine base) and refusing to submit to arrest, July 1 in Waterville; and aggravated trafficking in a scheduled drug (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of a scheduled drug (methamphetamine), violation of probation and unlawful possession of a scheduled drug (containing fentanyl powder), July 20 in Waterville.

• Veronica R. Davila, 23, of Augusta, escape, June 10, in Augusta.

• Albert Jonathan DiPietro, 39, of Jay, burglary, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking and criminal mischief, July 5 in Rome.

• Sherry L. Gilley, 39, of Harpswell, unlawful possession of drugs (containing methamphetamine), unlawful possession of drugs (cocaine) and violation of probation, Aug. 19, in Vassalboro.

• Nicholas C. Hunter, 46, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking, April 23 in Manchester; and theft by unauthorized taking, May 2 in Augusta; and theft by unauthorized taking, May 4 in Augustów.

• Misty Jean Ireland, 40, of Gardiner, aggravated trafficking in drugs (fentanyl powder) and aggravated possession of drugs (containing fentanyl powder), Aug. 13, in Waterville.

• Ronjan Johnson, 44, of Brockton, Mass., two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (fentanyl powder), Feb. 12 in Albion.

• Jaymie L. LaChapelle, 39, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking, March 2 in Augusta; and theft by unauthorized taking, March 4 in Augusta; and theft by unauthorized taking, March 3 in Augusta.

• Michael Joseph Gola Jr., 33, of Oakland, domestic violence terrorizing, domestic violence criminal threats and harassment by telephone or electronic communications device, between Jan. 4 and Jan. 7 in Kennebec County.

• Dakota L. L’Italien, 33, of Monmouth, unlawful possession of drugs (containing methamphetamine), Aug. 12 in Monmouth.

• Joshua R. Johnston, 39, of Waterville, criminal possession of drugs (containing fentanyl powder) and criminal trespassing, July 13 in Waterville.

• Omar Sims Marquez, 21, of Waterbury, Conn., aggravated trafficking in narcotics (fentanyl powder), aggravated trafficking in narcotics (cocaine base), tampering with physical evidence and criminal forfeiture in the amount of $3,609 on Aug. 1 in Waterville.

• Justin McCausland, 28, of Winslow, theft by unauthorized taking, between Jan. 2 and June 7 in Winslow; and a June 7 false public report in Winslow.

• Shawn Allan McKeil, 42, of Fairfield, domestic violence criminal threat, Aug. 4, in Winslow; and violating condition of release, between Aug. 1 and Aug. 4, in Winslow.

• Casey W. Merry, 44, of Mercer, operating after revocation, violation of probation and operating without a license, July 12 in Waterville.

• Kyle W. Northrup, 35, of Jefferson, unlawful possession of narcotics (containing fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of narcotics (psilocybin mushrooms) and criminal operating under the influence, Aug. 19, in Augusta.

• Caleb M. O’Clair, 19, of Waterville, domestic violence assault, Sept. 3, in Waterville.

• James D. Pinkham Jr., 44, of Sidney, theft by unauthorized taking, Aug. 2 in Augusta.

• Lynn Robert Poulin Jr., 45, of Winslow, operating while license revoked and operating without a license, May 22 in Winslow.

• Jason R. Reckards, 44, of Livermore, burglary, theft by unauthorized taking and aggravated criminal mischief, July 25 in Wayne.

• Emmanuel D. Reynolds, 44, of Waterville, two counts of aggravated trafficking in a scheduled drug (cocaine), two counts of aggravated trafficking in a scheduled drug (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of a scheduled drug (cocaine), unlawful possession of a scheduled drug (containing fentanyl in powder), unlawful possession of a firearm and forfeiture of $9,181 in a criminal proceeding on August 15 in Waterville.

• Connie F. Richards, 37, of Madison, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine) and violation of condition of release, Sept. 13, in Waterville.

• Joshua Souther, 47, of Livermore Falls, burglary, theft by unauthorized taking and criminal mischief, July 25 in Wayne.

• Kyle Spooner, 28, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking, Aug. 5 in Waterville.

• David Stanford, 49, of Waterville, domestic violence terrorizing, Aug. 28, in Waterville.

• John Carrol Williams Jr., 56, of Albion, domestic violence assault and criminal mischief, Sept. 21, in Albion.

• Acacia S. Wilmot, 31, Augusta, probation violation and unlawful possession of drugs (cocaine base), Aug. 11, in Augusta.

• Tyler A. Wilson, 26, of Augusta, violation of probation, unlawful possession of narcotics (fentanyl powder) and violation of probation, Sept. 11 in Waterville; and violating probation, between June 15 and September 11, in Augusta.