PARIS — A Woodstock man who was the subject of a Maine State Police manhunt in late November has had his $100,000 property bail revoked in favor of $25,000 cash bail after he was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property on Dec. 12.

At a hearing Friday in Oxford County Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney Richard Beauchesne argued that Joseph R. Cox, 26, had violated his bail conditions by breaking into a relative’s house and stealing cigarettes and a leaf blower.

Cox’s attorney, Maurice Porter, argued for a higher surety bail rather than cash, saying the burglary charge was overblown. Porter said a pawn shop receipt showed the leaf blower had been sold before the day Cox is accused of breaking into the house.

“Some of these dates and facts do not match up,” Porter said.

He said Cox’s father owned a lot of valuable land and that the surety bail could be raised to $150,000 or even $200,000. Cox’s father was out of the country and could not testify to his willingness to put up more property as collateral.

Beauchesne said that wasn’t enough. “You can set bail at $2 million surety. It’s not going to stop him from doing what he’s doing,” he argued. “It’s not his money.”

Beauchesne said Cox broke in the door to a relative’s home. A confrontation at that home led to earlier charges of aggravated assault, criminal threatening, assault, domestic violence assault, terrorizing and violation of condition of release.

After an argument and a fight at that home, Cox and his girlfriend went into the woods. Police were told Cox had made suicidal threats and had a gun and a knife, setting off a four-hour manhunt involving about 50 county and state police.

Cox was caught after knocking on a door in the area, which led the occupant to call the police. The gun was a pellet gun.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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