AUBURN – A 28-year-old Lewiston man convicted of beating two city police officers with a bat last year was spared Tuesday from spending time behind bars.

Justice Thomas E. Delahanty II sentenced Steven Fournier to eight years in prison, but he suspended the entire sentence and placed him on eight years of probation with strict conditions.

Fournier was diagnosed with autism nine years ago.

After hearing from several of the Lewiston native’s relatives and friends, Delahanty decided that prison wouldn’t be good for him.

“Our jail system is not equipped to handle someone in the defendant’s situation,” Delahanty said.

A tall, thin man with a boyish smile, Fournier thanked the judge for keeping him out of jail.

“I’m sorry about the whole thing. I’m sorry it even happened,” he said. “With my medication and the support that I have, I can live a normal life.”

Fournier’s relatives told Delahanty that Fournier’s behavior on Sept 25, 2002, was not typical.

The ordeal started when Fournier’s father called 911 to report that his son was out of control.

Officers Raymond Roberts and John Fitzgibbons arrived at the Pond Road home to find Fournier on an outside porch, swinging a hammer and throwing furniture on the lawn.

After learning that Fournier suffered from a mental illness, the officers decided to take him to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. When they approached him, however, he grabbed an aluminum bat and started swinging.

“Officer Roberts thought he was going to be killed,” Deputy District Attorney Craig Turner said. “This could have been a lot worse.”

According to police reports, Roberts received three blows to the head, and Fitzgibbons was struck in the arm and the side of the head as he knelt to help his partner.

Fitzgibbons eventually sprayed Fournier with Mace and restrained him. Both officers were treated at local hospitals and released.

Fournier pleaded guilty in April to one count of aggravated assault and one count of assault on a police officer.

Roberts told the judge during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing that he would be concerned about the safety of his fellow officers if Fournier were released.

Fournier’s relatives, however, argued that jail would only do more damage. They said that Fournier assaulted the officers because he was afraid and he hadn’t been taking his medication.

“He wants to be normal,” said his mother, Deborah Jean Fournier. “That is his goal in life – to be normal.”

“Utilize your legal power to connect Steve with the community instead of isolate him more,” added his sister, Christine Fournier.

As conditions of his probation, Fournier will be barred from drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs and he will be required to take all of his prescribed medications.

“Whether or not you have to spend time in jail will depend on your conduct,” Delahanty warned Fournier. “It is going to be eight years of close supervision.”

lchmelecki@sunjournal.com