Manslaughter convict accused of jail assault

ROCKLAND – A man who served prison time for the Nov. 7, 1994, beating death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter in Rockland was in court Wednesday for a bail hearing on an assault charge.

Harold M. Clarke Jr., 42, now of Cushing, is accused of a Nov. 17 assault at Knox County Jail involving another inmate. Clarke was released Wednesday after the court session on $10,000 cash bail, according to court records.

Clarke was convicted of manslaughter in the beating death of Deanna Marie Wadsworth, a child he was baby-sitting for his girlfriend.

He was sentenced June 19, 1998, to 15 years in prison with all but nine years suspended and six years probation. Clarke was convicted after two trials. A June 1996 trial in Bath ended in a hung jury. He was convicted Oct. 16, 1997, in Penobscot County Superior Court.

Clarke was released from prison May 23, 2002, his probation officer, John Lorenzen, said Wednesday.

In early September, Clarke was driving late at night during a rainstorm when he was stopped by police, who said they saw his vehicle swerving. Clarke was charged with operating while under the influence of legally prescribed drugs, Lorenzen said, noting the drugs contain a warning regarding driving.

At that time, Clarke was arrested and subsequently bailed from Waldo County Jail.

It was Clarke who reported the incident to his probation officer, Lorenzen said. He said the incident was Clarke’s first violation of probation in 21/2 years.

Eventually, Clarke got a 10-day sentence for the OUI and 30 days behind bars for a probation violation. The time for the OUI was served in the Waldo County Jail, while the probation violation was served at Knox County Jail.

While incarcerated at Knox County Jail, Clarke got into an altercation with another inmate, Lorenzen said, and an investigation began.

After Clarke’s release from jail, the district attorney issued a warrant for the assault and he was again put in jail on Dec. 21. He was released Wednesday after posting bail.

No court date has been set for the assault charge or a motion for probation violation, Lorenzen said.