AUGUSTA — A woman who told Walmart employees she was being kidnapped on Wednesday also told workers at the Olive Garden restaurant the same thing shortly afterward, according to a police affidavit filed in court.
Ashley R. O’Kane, 24, of Lisbon, told Augusta police that Assama-vi Koumou-Nete, 28, of Lewiston, walked into her home and started choking and beating her, then ordered her into his vehicle. She said Koumou-Nete drove to Augusta while beating her in the back of the head and face. Police said O’Kane told them she did not believe she had any lasting injuries from that.
O’Kane said the assault continued as the couple went to Home Depot, where he made her ear bleed. Augusta Police Office Benjamin Murtiff’s affidavit said he took photographs of red marks on O’Kane’s neck and blood in her ear. O’Kane also told police that Koumou-Nete broke her phone while she was attempting to dial 911.
O’Kane said the couple had been in a relationship for about five years and have a 2-year-old child together.
Koumou-Nete originally was scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Friday, but that hearing was delayed.
Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said that because Koumou-Nete was on probation, he will be held on a probation violation charge rather than go before a judge immediately.
“With him we can do some additional investigation because we have five days,” she said. “We’ll be talking to everyone involved before deciding what the charges will be. It’s complicated not because of what charges should be filed, but because of who should prosecute it. It started outside my district and came into my district.”
She said she is talking to the district attorney in Androscoggin County and coming up with a coordinated plan to move forward.
“If he was not on probation, we would not be able to take this extra time,” Maloney said.
O’Kane had approached a worker at the Augusta Walmart about 5 p.m. Wednesday to say she was being kidnapped and to call police. The first employee took her to a second employee, and O’Kane said Koumou-Nete was in the bathroom.
One of the workers told police she overheard the man saying to the woman, “You left me in jail to die and I am taking the car.”
The couple then went to Olive Garden, and once seated, O’Kane said she talked to staff there and also asked them to call police. O’Kane said Koumou-Nete became suspicious and made her leave the restaurant, agreeing to take her home, she said.
Walmart had provided a photo of the man and woman leaving the store and of the suspect vehicle as well as a license plate number, and police stopped the vehicle as it was headed south on Interstate 95.
Koumou-Nete told police he met O’Kane that day because he wanted custody of his son. He also denied he was keeping O’Kane against her will.
“Assama stated that is not true, she could have left any time she wanted to,” Murtiff wrote.
Police said Koumou-Nete was on bail conditions prohibiting him from having contact with O’Kane.
Koumou-Nete was arrested by Augusta police on charges of domestic violence assault, violating conditions of release, criminal mischief and obstructing report of a crime, and he was taken to Kennebec County jail. Police also noted that Koumou-Nete has two previous convictions for domestic violence, and was on probation.
A bail commissioner denied him bail on Wednesday.
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