Prosecutor: Defendant wanted to blackmail victims

Defense attorney Steven Keable confers with his client, Roman Czepyha, prior to his probable cause hearing Friday in Rochester District Court. (Harrison Thorp photo)

ROCHESTER – The man charged with felony second-degree assault in connection with a Milton knife fight last month suggested blackmailing victims in the incident during a jailhouse phone call to his dad, a county prosecutor said on Friday.

In arguing for a higher bail Assistant County Attorney Tim Sullivan told Rochester District Court Judge Susan W. Ashley he was convinced that the defendant in the case, Roman Czepyha, 28, of 559 White Mountain Hwy., was a threat to the community and had already exhibited his propensity for witness tampering in the taped phone call.

Even though Czepyha was told by his father, Craig Czepyha, that the phone conversation was likely being monitored, his son continued his rant, asking if anybody was “ratting him out,” Sullivan said.

He also asked his father to destroy his cellphone so Milton Police couldn’t get ahold of it and use it as evidence against him, Sullivan added.

Craig Czepyha, 53, of 243 Forest St., meanwhile, has been charged with two counts of felony witness tampering. He is accused of telling victims in the case to make false written statements to Milton Police.

Craig Czepyha was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail and is set to be arraigned in Rochester District Court later this month. He sat in the back of the courtroom on Friday during his son’s probable cause hearing.

The original incident on Feb. 20 began when Roman Czepyha knocked over a chess piece, and he and housemate Matthew Shattuck, 19, got into an argument, court testimony revealed on Friday.

When Milton Police arrived at 559 White Mountain Hwy. they found two victims who were injured trying to break up the fight, in which both combatants had drawn knives.

Shattuck’s father sustained a laceration to his arm, and a female suffered bumps and bruises.

Both were transported and later released from Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Roman Czepyha was charged with felony second-degree assault punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Shattuck was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol and disorderly conduct. He is out on personal recognizance bail with an arraignment later this month.

Roman Czepyha was charged with first-degree assault two years ago in a stabbing incident, but the charge was dismissed at a probable cause hearing. Sullivan said Roman Czepyha’s criminal history also included convictions in shoplifting, theft, drug possession, reckless conduct and simple assault.

In arguing for his client’s $2,500 cash bail to be lowered, defense attorney Steven Keable of Dover, N.H., told the court that Roman Czepyha had never been convicted of a felony, suffered disabling mental health issues and had agreed to live with his father in Wakefield if released.

With Sullivan asking for a higher cash bail of $5,000 and Keable asking for a lowered cash bail of $800, Judge Ashley ordered his bail kept at the original $2,500 cash.

The case was bound over to Superior Court for possible indictment.

Roman Czepyha’s father is currently out on $10,000 personal recognizance in connection with the witness tampering charge, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison.