ROCKLAND — A man from Hope with a prior history of domestic violence remains in jail after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting two teens.

Pomphile A. Fontaine, 32, made his initial court appearance in Knox County Unified Court June 2 after he was arrested on two counts of felony domestic violence assault and tampering with a witness. At the hearing, Judge Barbara Raimondi set his bail at $1,500 cash.

Fontaine was initially held at the Knox County Jail but due to the recent staffing issues at the facility, he was transferred to the Twin Bridges Jail in Wiscasset, where he remains as an inmate.

According to the affidavit filed by Detective Justin Twitchell of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, his investigation included details about Fontaine allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old boy in May 2017 and another boy in December 2015 who was 16 at the time of the incident. Their injuries included bruises on the arm and neck and injured ribs due to being thrown to the ground.

Fontaine was also charged with tampering with a victim after it was reported that he told one of the victims not to provide information to the police.

Twitchell entered the investigation after the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a referral from Hope Elementary School about a teacher’s concerns in reference to a neck injury with one of the victims.

Twitchell documented in the affidavit that there is a clear history of abuse. Fontaine was convicted of domestic violence assault in Rockland District Court in May 2013.

Fontaine will appear in court again July 13. 

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com