ROCKLAND, Maine — A Camden man who was arrested last week and accused of breaking into a Rockport home and sexually assaulting a woman is being investigated in similar home invasions.
Eli Z. Kemberling, 22, made a brief appearance Monday afternoon in Knox County Superior Court on a request by his attorney, Eric “Rick” Morse, to have bail amended so Kemberling could be taken by the jail to a rehabilitation center in Sidney for a screening to determine if he would be a suitable candidate for its program.
Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Baroody objected to the request, saying he considered Kemberling a serious public safety risk.
Baroody said that since Kemberling was apprehended on Nov. 9 in Rockport, he has implicated himself in similar home invasions in Camden and Portland.
Camden police Detective Curt Andrick said Monday that the department is investigating an incident on the night of Aug. 3 at a Maple Street home in Camden that was similar to the Nov. 9 crime in neighboring Rockport.
In the Rockport case, the woman told police that she was asleep in bed when she felt someone touching her. She at first thought it was her husband, but when she opened her eyes, she saw a man wearing a mask, according to an affidavit filed in the case. The woman screamed, and the man ran down the stairs, when her husband, who had fallen asleep on the couch, awoke and tackled the fleeing man. The man was allegedly Kemberling.
Kemberling had allegedly been carrying a large knife and later told police he was planning to “do damage.” He was charged with burglary, aggravated criminal trespass, unlawful sexual contact, theft and violating a condition of release.
Kemberling, who already was on bail on previous charges of theft and operating under the influence, is being held without bail.
Morse said his client suffers from significant mental health issues. He said that Kemberling had been at a rehab center in Florida until late October.
Justice Daniel Billings agreed to allow Kemberling to be taken to the Sidney rehabilitation center for an evaluation after which he will be returned to jail.
Information on the Portland case was not immediately available Monday.
There also was an incident on April 12 in Rockport. A woman reported waking up and finding a man standing over her. The man fled from the home when the woman awoke and screamed, according to police at the time.
Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley said Monday the department would look into that case since it is very similar. He said he expects other departments also will be looking through their files for similar cases.