Man pleads guilty to drug charges, assaulting woman

LYNN – A homeless city man was sentenced to 1? years in jail after pleading guilty to assault and drug charges in several cases. Prosecutors dropped charges, including attempted murder, and had previously dropped a kidnapping charge.James Legault, 25, homeless, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges in three cases in Lynn District Court.In the first and earliest case, Legault was charged with kidnapping; assault and battery; witness intimidation; assault with a dangerous weapon; possession of Class E drugs; possession of Class C drugs; and possession of Class B drugs; in January 2013.In that incident, Legault and an ex-girlfriend were driving when they allegedly got into an argument after Legault accused the woman of stealing his marijuana. Legault allegedly threatened the woman with a knife, and police recovered drugs and the weapon from the vehicle.All but the drug charges were dismissed as the case proceeded to trial.Legault was charged with two counts of threats in December after sending threatening text messages to his new girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend and to the new girlfriend’s mother.The new girlfriend was in drug treatment at the time after she inadvertently called her ex and left the line open while using heroin with Legault. Legault accused the victims of trying to keep him away from his new girlfriend.Legault was then arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts; attempt to commit murder; malicious destruction of property +$250; threats; and witness intimidation in connection with repeated assaults over a weekend in February.The victim told police she and Legault were arguing on a Thursday night when he attacked her, covering her mouth with his hand and squeezing her neck. Legault then slammed her head into the wooden part of a futon, the victim said. For several hours, he refused to let the victim leave the apartment, threatening her and threatening to kill himself. He fled the next evening when he learned she called police, but he returned later that night and the assault continued.Legault kicked in the door to the apartment when he again returned the next day and – holding a knife to his throat and to his stomach – threatened to kill himself because of the victim.”(The victim) stated she was very scared that Legault was going to kill her and that she thought Legault was going to kill her this weekend,” police wrote.Legault resolved all three cases Tuesday in Lynn District Court.He pleaded guilty to the remaining three drug charges in the first matter.He pleaded guilty to two counts of threats in the second incident.He pleaded guilty to assault and battery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; witness intimidation; and malicious destruction of property +$250; in the most recent matter. Essex Assistant District Attorney Ashlee Logan requested the attempted murder and threats charges be dropped, and reduced one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon to an assault-and-battery charge. The attempted-murder charge was dropped so that the case remained in district court rather than being sent to a grand jury for an indictment, according to court documents.Judge Albert Conlon sentenced Legault to 1? years in jail and 2? years of probation with conditions including that Legault remain drug and alcohol free with random screenings and stay away from and have no contact with the victim.