BANGOR, Maine — A Newburgh man who pleaded guilty earlier this month to an Aug. 7 armed robbery at a Dysart’s Travel Stop where he once worked in his hometown, was arrested Christmas Day for violating his bail conditions.
James Manning, 22, was originally arrested on Aug. 15 in connection with the armed robbery at the Dysart’s filling station and convenience store on Carmel Road North.
The armed robbery occurred moments before the store closed when a lone male — later identified as Manning — entered the store brandishing a handgun, pushed a customer aside and then demanded money from two clerks while waving the handgun erratically, investigators have said.
Manning entered a guilty plea on Dec. 8 to felony robbery and was released on $50,000 cash bail with conditions that he not break the law and not have any contact with any of the witnesses, including some of his former co-workers.
“The allegation is after he left court after his last appearance, he got into his car, he sped up [to one witness] real fast and stopped real close [to her] and made an obscene gesture,” Assistant District Attorney Tracy Collins said Friday. “By doing that, he violated his conditions of release for no contact. It’s a felony bail violation.”
Manning was taken into custody on Christmas Day by Bangor police after a court warrant was issued for his arrest for violating conditions of his release and for bail revocation, according to a Penobscot County Jail official.
When Manning entered his guilty plea earlier this month, he did so under a plea agreement negotiated with the district attorney’s office, that calls for him to be sentenced to eight years in prison for the Class B felony robbery with all but three years suspended, followed by three years of supervised release.
Manning’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday.
“He is still supposed to be sentenced on Monday on the plea,” Collins said. “I don’t know how this is going to affect that. It’s [Penobscot County District Attorney] Chris Almy’s case.”
Two other local men also were arrested on Christmas, Collins said.
Albert Lavigne, 50, of Eddington was arrested on domestic violence assault and domestic violence terrorizing charges when an argument with his live-in girlfriend on Christmas turned violent, the prosecutor said.
“He sprayed her with lighter fluid and threatened to set her on fire,” and later threw a bottle at her that struck her head leaving a welt, Collins said.
Lavigne is being held at Penobscot County Jail on $300 cash bail.
Donald Michaud, 48, of Bangor, who was out on bail with conditions not to drink was arrested in Brewer for violating his bail conditions. His bail was set at $150, Collins said.
All three remained behind bars on Friday afternoon, the jail official said.