Man awaiting sentencing in McDonald's riot case gets jail early after Monday arrest

Robert Gorham (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - The Rochester man found guilty last month of riot and assault at a Dover McDonald's drive-thru will now await sentencing in jail after his bail was revoked following his arrest for DUI and alleged assault on Monday.

The incident occurred a little before 9 p.m. when police say Robert Gorham, 34, of 899 Salmon Falls Road, was driving on Pine Street when he had words with a pedestrian who thought Gorham had driven his vehicle too close.

It is alleged that Gorham then turned his car around and came back up Pine Street where it is a one-way street and assaulted the pedestrian.

Gorham was charged with simple assault with bodily injury and DUI. He also received summonses for uninspected vehicle and driving on a one-way street.

Last month a jury found Gorham guilty of riot and attempted simple assault in a March 2018 incident at the Dover McDonald's drive thru on Central Avenue.

Gorham, who could face a maximum of eight years behind bars in the McDonald's incident when he is sentenced on Aug. 1, was allowed to remain free on personal recognizance, however part of the bail conditions were that he not be charged in any new crimes and that he not consume alcohol, Deputy County Attorney Timothy Sullivan said today.

During Gorham's bail hearing on the new charges today his defense attorney argued that county corrections supervision, an alcohol monitoring device or curfew could mitigate court concerns over public safety, but Superior Court Judge Mark Howard determined his bail should be revoked and he was remanded over to the Strafford County House of Corrections.