Jury selected in trial of man accused of strangling woman at McDonald's drive-thru

Robert C. Gorham (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - Jury selection was completed on Wednesday in the trial of a Rochester man accused of strangling a woman during a confrontation in the McDonald's drive-thru in Dover last year.

Robert C. Gorham, 33, of 809 Salmon Falls Road, was indicted on two felony charges of second-degree assault and riot, which is defined as when two or more individuals act in concert during an act of violence. Gorham also faces misdemeanor simple assault charges in connection with the attack, which occurred on March 10 of last year at the Central Avenue McDonald's.

Gorham is one of three who have been charged in the attack on a couple in their 40s and the female's son, who were waiting in line for their food when melee occurred.

Champion J. Sprague, 25, and Megan L. Oneill, 27, both of Rochester, received suspended 12-month sentences in recent plea deals made with the court.

Court records indicate that two victims of the attack suffered injuries, including abrasions to the female victim's neck and knee and a contusion to the head of a male victim.

The incident unfolded around 11:25 p.m. on March 10, 2018, when police responded to the report of a fight at the McDonald's restaurant at 912 Central Ave. Police learned the altercation occurred in the restaurant's vehicle drive-thru lane.

In an interview shortly after the arrests, Dover Police Lt. Brant Dolleman said the three victims, a couple in their 40s and the female's son, were just waiting in line when the three suspects cut in front of them and began taunting and insulting them.

As tensions escalated, one of the men, identified as Gorham, got out of the group's vehicle and approached the victims' car, Dolleman said, which led the 19-year-old to also get out to confront him.

Dolleman said the violence escalated quickly as Gorham took a swing at the teen, but missed. Then Gorham allegedly went over to and began strangling the woman.

As her companion came to her defense, he was assaulted by Sprague, Dolleman said, adding that at some point after this, O'Neill also struck the woman.

While jury selection was completed on Monday, the trial isn't scheduled to begin until May 21. It is expected to last four days.