ROCKLAND — The following cases were closed in Knox County Unified Court from Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

Joseph K. Emerson, 25, of Warren, aggravated assault in Warren Aug. 5, 2017, five years in prison with all but two years suspended, probation three years.

Emerson was arrested Aug. 7, 2107, and appeared before Judge Susan Sparaco in Knox County Unified Court Aug. 9, 2017. His bail was set at $50,000 cash.

According to the affidavit filed in Knox County Unified Court, Maine State Police Detective Scott Quintero received a report from Maine Medical Center in Portland that the injuries of a young child, 18-months-old at the time, were not consistent with statements made by the mother about how the injuries occurred.

The mother told police that she had left the child with Emerson, her boyfriend, when she went to work on Saturday, August 5, the affidavit said. She said that when she came home, Emerson told her that the boy had fallen off a metal chair and struck his head on the tile floor, according to the affidavit.

Emerson told the mother that the boy’s eyes had rolled back into his head for a moment and then became normal. He said he then applied ice to the boy’s head to reduce the swelling and made sure he stayed awake to two hours.

The mother said that although she did not believe Emerson would become violent with the boy, she already had witnessed him squeezing the child hard around his ribs causing the man’s veins to bulge.

According to the affidavit, the mother called the boy’s father the following morning after the incident on August 5 to report that the child was not acting normal.

Physicians reported to police that the child had a skull fracture and a bruised brain, which they said will likely lead to developmental disabilities, according to the court document.

The boy also had four broken ribs that were estimated to be one to two months old, and a lacerated liver.

When police interviewed Emerson, he initially confirmed that the child fell from the chair and then he said he had dropped the child. In his last statement to police, he said he threw the child off the bed because he hit him with a toy truck, according to the affidavit. 

Anthony M. Joyce, 40, of Union, operating under the influence (alcohol) in Rockland May 13, $500 fine, 72 hours in jail, license suspended 150 days.

Karen D. Krager, 24, of Vinahaven, aggravated criminal mischief, dismissed.

John Mathieson, 73, of Rockland, operating after habitual offender revocation, prior, dismissed.

Andrew McClain, 21, of Owls Head, unlawful possession of scheduled drug in Owls Head March 30, 2017, $400 fine, 364 days in jail with all but 120 days suspended, probation one year.

Ernest Robinson, 45, of Thomaston, operating vehicle while license suspended or revoked in Thomaston Aug. 20, dismissed.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com