BY KEITH EPPS
A Stafford jury this week recommended a 14-month jail term for a man who beat up his girlfriend's husband after the victim showed up at his own home.
Michael William Blodgett, 31, was charged with pummeling Todd D. Deloach Oct. 27, 2005, near Deloach's home on Langley Court. Blodgett was living in the home with Deloach's wife at the time.
Part of the beating was heard by Stafford dispatchers after Deloach called 911.
Blodgett was convicted Wednesday evening of assault and battery and felony destruction of property. The jury recommended the maximum penalty on the assault charge--12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine--but reduced a more serious felony charge.
According to the evidence presented by prosecutor Caleb Frigerio, Deloach and his wife, Margarita Deloach, separated in August 2005.
Deloach had come home a month earlier and found Blodgett in his bathroom. His wife eventually got Deloach to leave the home and moved Blodgett in.
Deloach, who continued paying the mortgage, testified that he called his wife on Oct. 27 and learned that she was pregnant.
He said she hung up, and when he called back, Blodgett answered the phone and cursed and taunted him.
Deloach said he went to the home a short time later to retrieve some of his belongings.
He saw his prized comic book collection in a Hyundai he owned, so he got into the car and drove it about a half-mile away.
When he returned to get his other car, Deloach testified, his wife and Blodgett were scratching it up and deflating the tires.
Deloach said he had called 911 to report the vandalism when Blodgett began punching him. He said he was kicked after being knocked to the ground and suffered a concussion and bloody nose.
Blodgett fled before police arrived and ended up in the state of Washington. He wasn't picked up on the Stafford charges until May of last year.
Deloach's now former wife, who has since had her baby, previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor destruction of property charge.
There was testimony about other altercations involving the three people, including once when Deloach allegedly showed up at the home with an ax handle. No one was injured or charged in that incident, though police were called.
Blodgett will be formally sentenced on May 7.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404