Suspect in assault held without bail

BANGOR – A Brewer man suspected of assaulting his girlfriend and leaving her in a ditch New Year’s Eve turned himself in Friday morning at the Penobscot County Jail, where he remains held without bail.

On Thursday night, authorities sought James “Butch” Boutilier, 37, in Aroostook County, where they believed he may have fled, with possible later plans to head to Florida.

But Bangor police Detective Lt. Tim Reid said that Boutilier turned himself in about 5 a.m. at the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor.

A warrant had been issued for Boutilier’s arrest for violating bail conditions, although authorities are also plan to charge Boutilier after his girlfriend Brenda Kimball was found New Year’s Eve in a ditch on Perry Road in Bangor.

A motorist reported finding Kimball lying in the ditch at about 8 p.m. Dec. 31 and that Boutilier was there trying to get the bleeding woman to her feet.

Boutilier told the man that Kimball had jumped from his truck, and when the motorist went to get a blanket, Boutilier drove off in a tractor-trailer truck. The motorist told police that Boutilier was treating the injured woman roughly and was not being cautious while moving her.

Kimball, who had apparently lost consciousness at one point, was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center where she was treated for a head injury, although on Friday a hospital official would not comment on her condition.

But earlier, a hospital physician told police that some of the injuries were not consistent with a fall from a vehicle. The woman had an eye injury that appeared to have been caused by a blow, possibly from an elbow or a fist, the doctor told police.

Kimball’s son told police that he had spoken to her by cellular phone New Year’s Eve as she was returning from a trip to Massachusetts and that she sounded upset but wouldn’t say why.

Boutilier left two messages on the answering machine of one of Kimball’s friends, stating that Kimball had jumped from his truck. Detectives listened to the phone messages and reported that Boutilier stated that they had been arguing about a check and that she had jumped out.

Boutilier claimed that he had left the scene because he was under the influence of intoxicants and out on bail, with conditions from a November 2003 domestic assault charge that prohibited him from having any contact with Kimball.

He also said that he had been using drugs and that the truck was “full of dope,” according to the police report.

Boutilier was escorted to 3rd District Court in Bangor Friday afternoon, although he never appeared before a judge. Apparently there was some confusion and Assistant District Attorney Alice Clifford said that Boutilier was already being held without bail so no bail hearing was necessary.

Instead, Boutilier is expected to go before a judge on Jan. 14 for a hearing on whether to revoke his previous bail.

Clifford said Boutilier will also be charged with aggravated assault and that more charges may be filed.