Mass. man accused in Strafford County jail assault gets 6 years for drug trafficking

Devon Ashton (Police mugshot)

PORTLAND, Maine - A Massachusetts man indicted in the assault of a fellow inmate at the Strafford (NH) County Jail in July was sentenced in federal court in Maine on Wednesday for fentanyl trafficking.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Devon Ashton, 28, of Worcester, Mass., to six years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the drug charge in July.

According to court records, between January and March 2023, the DEA conducted four controlled purchases of fentanyl from Ashton for a total of approximately 192 grams. At the end of March, Ashton was stopped for speeding in Lewiston, and $8,000 in cash and around 59 grams of cocaine were seized. He was arrested on the drug charges in May.

The bulk of his drug trafficking was in Cumberland and Androscoggin counties.

Ashton has previous convictions for unlawful firearms possession and assault, among other offenses.

While awaiting sentencing, he was involved in a July 15 altercation with a fellow inmate at the Strafford County Jail. Ashton was indicted in the assault in September. According to court documents, he "struck (the victim) with his hand(s)."

The assault by prisoner charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in state prison.