LEICESTER — A Leicester man was arrested for assault and other charges after he allegedly struck an elderly couple at their Fern Lake home and then took their phone so they couldn’t call for help on April 23.
Vermont State Police arrested Donald Foley, 48, who pleaded innocent on Tuesday in Addison County Superior Court, Criminal Division, to two charges of simple assault and one charge of interfering with access to emergency services. Those charges stemmed from an alleged verbal dispute that Foley had with his neighbors that authorities said turned physical.
According to court documents, Foley went into the Fern Lake Road home of Peggy Coleman, 79, and her husband Charmand Goodrich, 60, and engaged in a discussion about real estate. The conversation became heated, according to police, to a point where Foley allegedly pushed Goodrich to the floor and kicked him twice in the face.
Foley also allegedly grabbed Coleman’s hand and kicked her in the stomach, according to court documents. Police reported he is also alleged to have taken the couple’s phone and thrown it outside when Coleman attempted to call authorities.
Foley was initially held on $75,000 bail pending his arraignment. While Foley’s bail was lowered to $5,000 on this case, he was ordered held without bail for violating the conditions of his probation on a separate case relating to lewd and lascivious conduct, according to Addison County Deputy State’s Attorney Chris Perkett.