Punch leads to assault charge
Toolbox
By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: August 5, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Windsor man whose former employer said has a "jailhouse mentality" denied charges Tuesday he punched the head of a teenager who owed him $20.
Wayne B. Keough, 31, pleaded innocent in White River Junction District Court to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
According to affidavits filed with the court, on June 12, a woman called Hartford police to complain her teenage son had been assaulted at work. Police interviewed Travis Olmstead, 17, who said Keough had assaulted him at the Listen Center in White River Junction where they both work, records state.
Olmstead told police he had purchased from Keough a Sony PSP, a hand-held video-game device that commonly retails for $170, records state. Olmstead told police he had already paid $100 and had possession of the device, but owed Keough another $20, according to affidavits.
Olmstead told police he told Keough he would pay the remaining money in two days, but Keough punched him and gave him a black eye, records state.
According to Keough, and his former supervisor and co-worker, Olmstead might have antagonized Keough just a little bit.
"Travis Olmstead has pushed every employee to the end of their rope," wrote Olmstead's supervisor Barbara Pecor in a sworn statement. "I have talked with Wayne and I think he was pushed to his limit and with his jailhouse mentality, he punched Travis, but is very sorry for what he did."
Records state Keough has prior convictions for simple assault, domestic assault, resisting arrest, violating an abuse prevention order, unlawful mischief, disorderly conduct and escape.
Co-worker Arianne Clark overheard the conversation between Keough and Olmstead, according to her sworn affidavit.
"The conversation was about money that (Olmstead) owed (Keough) and he wanted to get paid," wrote Clark. "(Olmstead) got cocky and told him he'd get it to him soon."
In his written affidavit, it appears Keough admits striking Olmstead.
"(Olmstead) got right up in my face and said I don't have your (expletive) money he's owed me for three weeks so at this point I really was mad because he's mouthing off to me," Keough wrote. "I thought he was getting ready to swing at me so I swung once and hit his left eye which I feel really bad about."
Records state Pecor fired Keough immediately after the alleged assault.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
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