ROCKLAND — A Camden man arrested early Sunday morning, and charged with burglary and sexually assaulting a woman inside the home while her husband was asleep downstairs, will remain in jail pending a future court date.

Eli Kemberling, 22, appeared in Rockland District Court Nov. 10 before Judge Beth Dobson and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Fernald. Kemberling was represented by attorney Eric Morse. Kemberling has been charged with burglary, aggravated criminal trespass, unlawful sexual contact, theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release.

Kemberling entered a plea of not guilty to the five charges. Bail was set at $5,000 cash with conditions that he not use or possess drugs, alcohol or weapons; that he submit to random searches and tests; that he have no contact with the victims; that he not return to the residence of the victims and that he sign a Maine Pretrial Contract upon release.

But the judge approved the state's motion seeking to revoke deferred disposition and preconviction bail, meaning he will be held without bail. The next court date was set for Jan. 28, 2015. 

The new charges against Kemberling stem from an incident around 1:15 a.m. Nov. 9, when police received a 911 call from a resident on Meadow Street in Rockport.

According to Rockport Police Officer Robbie Shaw's affidavit, which is on file at the court, the victim told a Knox County Regional Communications dispatcher that a male, with the first name Eli, had broken into her house and sexually assaulted her. The woman also said that her husband was currently detaining the male at the bottom of the stairs in their home.

When Shaw arrived at the house, he said he met with the husband, who led him into the house and showed him where the male was seated. Shaw said the male identified himself as 22-year-old Eli Kemberling.

The victim told the officer that she was awakened by a male touching her, and at first thought it was her husband so "she just pushed the hand away." She then told the officer she felt her face being covered by a hand and again felt someone touching her.

"[She] told me that she opened her eyes and saw a male wearing a mask," said Shaw in the court document. "[She] then stated she cried out for help. That's when the male ran out of the room toward the stairs. [She] told me she ran to the top of the stairs and saw her husband tackle the male near the bottom of the stairs... that two of her children were standing next to her at this point."

The husband told Shaw that when he heard his wife screaming, he jumped up from the couch and ran to the stairs. That's when he saw a male running down the stairs carrying a large knife, according to the court document.

"[The husband] told me that he grabbed the male and threw him on the ground and started hitting him. He told me that he asked the male several times if anyone else was in the house with him. The male said '[the husband's name], it's me Eli Kemberling,’" said Shaw in the court document. "[The husband] told me that he stopped hitting the male, because he knew who the male was now. [The husband] asked him why he was in his house. Kemberling told [him] that he was looking for alcohol."

Shaw said he asked Kemberling where the knife was, but before he could answer, Shaw said he noticed a jacket that was lying on the ground near Kemberling's feet. Shaw then asked Kemberling if the jacket belonged to him, and he said yes. When Kemberling began to pick up the jacket, Shaw said that's when he noticed the knife lying on the ground at his feet.

"I quickly moved the knife with my foot so that it was now behind me and out of reach. I told Kemberling to stand up. I then placed him into handcuffs," said Shaw in the court document.

Seeing the knife again, Shaw said in the document that the husband asked Kemberling what he was intending to do that night.

"Kemberling looked at [the husband] and said 'To do damage.' When Kemberling said this he was smiling," said Shaw in the document.

While placing Kemberling into his cruiser, Shaw said he smelled an "overpowering odor of intoxicants emitting from" Kemberling's breath. When he asked the man how much he had to drink that night, Kemberling allegedly said he drank a "pint and a half."

At this point, Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Elwell arrived on scene and stayed with Kemberling while Shaw went back to the talk to the victims. Shaw said he asked the husband to walk him through the house, and to look for anything missing or broken, and when asked where he thought Kemberling had entered, the husband said the back door was unlocked.

The husband told Shaw he was sleeping on the couch, only three feet away from the door where Kemberling came in.

"What would have happened if I wasn't home. My wife could have been raped or even killed," said the husband to Shaw, according to the court document.

After Shaw took Kemberling to Knox County Jail in Rockland, his breath alcohol content was measured at .17 percent, according to the court document.

Related story:

• Rockport police charge Camden man with burglary, unlawful sexual contact

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.