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Matthew Grasser Jr. |
By Abigail W. Adams
An Edgecomb man has been indicted on charges of aggravated assault, a class B felony; and domestic violence assault on a child less than six years old, a class C felony, for allegedly striking a 20-month-old toddler in the face and pulling his arm, causing broken bones.
Matthew Grasser Jr., 21, of Edgecomb, was indicted March 10 on felony charges stemming from his Dec. 9, 2014 arrest.
Grasser allegedly admitted to striking the child and pulling his arm because he would not stop crying, according to a December 2014 press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
The toddler had been placed in the custody of Grasser’s girlfriend, the toddler’s aunt, after being removed from his mother’s custody by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, according to the press release.
The toddler’s mother lost custody because she was homeless and in a domestic violence situation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Michael Murphy said at the time.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was notified about physical abuse of the toddler after he was taken to LincolnHealth – Miles Campus in Damariscotta due to a swollen elbow. The child also had extensive bruising to his face, torso, and arms, according to the press release.
It was determined that his arm was broken and he was transferred to Spurwink Clinic in Portland for further evaluation, according to the press release. The Spurwink Clinic found various bruises in different phases of healing and determined they were the result of physical abuse.
Grasser was initially charged with aggravated assault. Domestic violence assault on a child less than six years old was added after further investigation.
Following the incident, the toddler was returned to the custody of his mother, who was then in a stable living situation, Murphy said previously.
The maximum penalty for a class B felony in Maine is 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000. The maximum penalty for a class C felony is five years in prison and a fine of $5,000.
