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Ex-husband charged in ring attack still in jail without bail

By Erin Rhoda erhoda@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

SKOWHEGAN — A man accused of forcing his former wife to swallow his wedding ring made his first court appearance Wednesday in Somerset County Superior Court.

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Darryl Roberts

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Darryl Alan Roberts, 44, of Fairfield, did not enter a plea Wednesday, defense lawyer John Alsop said.

“I’m sure he’ll have some defense to raise, but we didn’t get into it,” Alsop said.

Roberts was arrested Sunday for a June incident in which he allegedly kicked his way into Rice’s home and locked bedroom, punched her and then forced her to swallow his wedding ring when she opened her mouth to scream, police said.

His felony charges also stem from accusations that he called her 16 times in three hours to make threats on her life; he also allegedly continued to call her at various times afterward.

He faces charges of aggravated criminal trespassing, domestic-violence assault and two counts of domestic-violence terrorizing. He was also arrested on a probation revocation and probation hold.

Roberts is currently being held without bail at Somerset County Jail for breaking probation, but his bail situation could be reviewed once an attorney is appointed, Justice Peter Darvin decided.

For the woman, Theresa Rice, 30, the idea of Roberts being released is “terror,” she said in telephone interview.

“I had to move out of the apartment I was living in and into a building with security-locked doors. I’ve been able to breathe easier since he’s been arrested. I’ve been able to get a job,” Rice said.

If he’s released, she said she won’t go out in public unless she has other people with her.

“There’s no reason to put your hands on a woman. None,” she said.

Roberts was convicted April 27 in Kennebec County District Court of domestic-violence assault against the same woman.