Man pleads guilty, sentenced to 15-17 years for domestic violence incidents in Sandwich


SANDWICH
From Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office: Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe announced today that 40-year-old Michael St. James plead guilty to two counts of Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, two counts of Armed Assault in a Dwelling, one count of Assault with Intent to Murder, one count of Breaking and Entering in the Daytime while Placing a Person in Fear, four counts of Intimidation of a Witness, two counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, three counts of Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member, one count of Threat to Commit a Crime, one count of Strangulation or Suffocation, and one count of Stalking.

Judge Robert C. Rufo sentenced St. James to 15-17 years committed at MCI-Cedar Junction on the Armed Assault charges. St. James was sentenced to probation during his incarceration on the Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member charges, and 3 years probation from and after his incarceration on the Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon charges. He will be required to wear a GPS device upon his release. On the remaining charges, St. James was sentenced to concurrent time.

The charges stem from domestic violence assaults and events which occurred between July 9 and September 3, 2017 in the town of Sandwich. On July 9, St. James unlawfully entered his ex-girlfriend’s home, assaulted her, and took her cellphone to prevent her from contacting law enforcement.

On September 1, 2017, St. James arrived at another residence in Sandwich, believing that his ex-girlfriend was present. St. James threatened to kill a male occupant of the residence at that time.

On September 3, 2017, St. James again unlawfully entered his ex-girlfriend’s home, armed with rubber gloves, duct tape, and a flashlight. St. James took his ex-girlfriend’s cellphone as she attempted to dial 911, and proceeded to attack her. St. James proceeded to strangle his ex-girlfriend and attempted to bind her with duct tape before ultimately fleeing the residence.

Investigators ultimately determined that St. James had been able to track the victim’s whereabouts with a GPS device that he had secretly placed within her vehicle. St. James’ whereabouts were unknown to police between July 9 and September 4, 2017, when he was apprehended by the Weymouth Police Department.

The case was investigated by the Sandwich Police Department and Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael A. Patterson.

District Attorney O’Keefe said, “I want to commend the Sandwich Police and the Sheriff’s Department for this investigation. This was a complex case which ADA Patterson worked to put together resulting in this very strong sentence. I wish the victim happiness going forward.”



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