Dresden man charged with three crimes in span of week

Sun, 08/23/2015 - 4:30pm

    A Dresden man who was arrested Aug. 9 for allegedly assaulting a family member was arrested a week later after allegedly violating the conditions of his release.

    Steven Cherkis, 50, of Dresden was charged with three crimes.

    Cherkis was originally arrested and charged after an alleged Aug. 7 incident in Dresden.

    According to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Joel Seekins, deputies were called to a home in Dresden at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9 for a report of a domestic dispute.

    According to Seekins' report, Cherkis is alleged to have been drinking all day, and, according to the victim on the scene, he allegedly struck her. Cherkis then ran to woods, allegedly, before deputies arrived.

    Seekins was able to arrest Cherkis and charged him with two counts of Class C domestic violence. Cherkis had previously been convicted of assault in 2007 at the Lincoln County District Court and domestic violence assault in 2010 at the Lincoln County Superior Court.

    Cherkis was given bail conditions to neither return to the Dresden residence nor to have contact with the victim, and to not use or possess alcohol. He is scheduled to have a court date at the Lincoln County court house Oct. 26. He was held on $5,000 cash bail at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

    Cherkis was rearrested a week later after allegedly drinking alcohol in Orono.

    On Sunday, Aug. 16, at approximately 7:15 p.m. Orono Patrol Officer Camron Barrieau, along with Sgt. Daniel Merrill, responded to a report of a woman being threatened.

    According to Barrieau's report, the woman who called the police had been walking by a trailer where David Cherkis, Steven's brother, is reported to be living in Orono. David Cherkis allegedly began yelling at the woman and allegedly began threatening the woman and her boyfriend.

    At one point, according to the report, David Cherkis is alleged to have said he would “kick her (expletive)” and then allegedly told the woman to get her boyfriend so he could “kick his (expletive)” also.

    The woman stated that David Cherkis was intoxicated. When Barrieau allegedly asked her how she knew he was intoxicated, the woman reportedly replied, “I know what a drunk looks like,” and allegedly told the two officers that she could “out drink anyone.”

    The two officers reportedly knew that both Cherkis brothers were on bail conditions to not drink alcohol when they approached the trailer the two reportedly shared.

    David Cherkis allegedly admitted to getting into an argument with the woman, but denied making any threats. While Barrieau was speaking with Cherkis, he reportedly saw a bottle of Miller High Life beer next to where David Cherkis had been sitting.

    David Cherkis allegedly said the beer belonged to his 20-year-old relative, and denied having anything to drink. According to Barrieau's report, he wrote that David Cherkis allegedly had bloodshot eyes and was slurring his speech.

    Eventually, both Merrill and Barrieau were able to perform a probation search of the trailer, where they could not find Steven Cherkis during their first walk-through. Steven Cherkis was allegedly found after searching a closet, where he was reportedly laying down in the fetal position.

    While searching the house, Barrieau reportedly found several bottles of alcohol and marijuana paraphernalia.

    David Cherkis allegedly said all the alcohol and marijuana belonged to his relative.

    Both David and Steven Cherkis were brought to the Orono Police Department where Steven is alleged to have registered a .04 on a Breathalyzer test. David Cherkis is alleged to have had registered a .19 on the same test.

    David Cherkis was not charged with making threats, but both he and Steven were arrested and charged with Class E violating the conditions of their release.

    If convicted, Steven Cherkis could face prison time, as Class crimes are classified as felonies. Class C convictions carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Class E crimes are misdemeanors and are punishable by up to six months in prison and up to a $1,000 fine.