Suspect in Chatham shooting threatened wife, son with steak knife

By David Carkhuff

James Mann, 43, of Fryeburg, the man charged with fatally shooting 14-year-old Jasmine Steele and injuring longtime Chatham resident Linda Miles by shooting her in the face, has a record of criminal threatening that stems from a confrontation with family in 2003.Mann wielded a steak knife and threatened his wife, Deborah, and her adult son, Michael J. McAllister, on Jan. 30, 2003, in Fryeburg, according to Fryeburg Police. Fryeburg Police Sgt. Michael S. McAllister (no relation) arrested Mann at the time. Records in Oxford County Superior Court reveal that Mann intentionally or knowingly "caused fear of imminent bodily injury," leading to his conviction for criminal threatening.Mann entered a "no contest" plea, and a felony charge of criminal threatening was amended at sentencing by the district attorney's office to misdemeanor level criminal threatening in November 2003, according to court records. He was sentenced to 11 months of incarceration, with all but seven days suspended. Mann also was given a year of probation, according to court records.Fryeburg Police Sgt. McAllister said Mann appeared to have "mental issues" which led to occasional problems with neighbors in the area of Fish Street.Sources believe Mann was friends with Miles, but it's unclear what happened to precipitate the double shooting at her home in Chatham.Assistant Attorney General David Ruoff has confirmed that the killing happened at the Miles residence but declined to elaborate on the specific relationship of the parties or any motive for the crime pending a probable cause hearing on July 26. Mann was arrested Tuesday, July 11, the day of his arraignment, at the Conway Police Department, Ruoff reported.