City woman headed for jury trial next month in child assault case

Kristi Clement (Rochester Police photo)

DOVER - A Rochester woman accused of years of abusive behavior on a child will face a jury trial in Strafford Superior Court next month.
Kristi Clement, 33, of 5 Heaton St., was indicted in November 2021 on three second-degree assault charges, accusing her of strangling a boy by "grabbing his neck and placing her hand over his mouth and nose" and "applying pressure to his throat or neck."
Clement is also charged with several counts of simple assault, including "putting a rug over his head and pushing him into the ground, punching him on his arms and slapping his face." She is also accused of threatening to kill the boy or have him killed if he told anyone about the alleged abuse.
The three second degree assault charges each carry a maximum 30-year sentence, while the simple assault and criminal threatening charges are all enhanced misdemeanors, which carry a 2-5 year sentence.
All of the charges brought forward are alleged to have occurred between January 2018 and January 2021.
The trial is set for jury selection on Nov. 6.
Clement also faces an arraignment on Wednesday in an animal cruelty case that arose after neighbors spotted several dogs on the roof of her Heaton Street residence in September.
Police got involved around 4 p.m. on Sept. 3 as they responded to the residence after receiving two separate calls regarding a dog on the ledge of a roof at the address.
"Upon arrival officers saw three or four people holding a blanket in the form of a catch tarp," Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham soon after her arrest. "When officers looked up they saw at least one dog walking back and forth on the ledge, with two other dogs constantly popping their heads out of a small spot in the window that had an air conditioner unit in it that was not running at the time."
The Rochester Fire Department was called to assist with the dogs' rescue.
When firefighters and officers gained entry to the house they found four adult dogs and two puppies inside in temperatures over 80 degrees.
"The room smelled of urine and feces, and feces were found on the floor," Pinkham noted. "In addition to the temperature, smell and feces, no easy access to food or water was nearby."
Officers ultimately took custody of the animals, and police, along with the help of some bystanders, provided food and water to the animals, who appeared dehydrated and malnourished.
Police determined the person in charge of the animals, Clement, was not present at the time.
As a result, a warrant was completed for her arrest, which took place Sept. 11. Clement was charged with six counts of cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor that can carry a maximum of a year in county jail on each count.
Clement was released on personal recognizance bail pending her arraignment in Rochester Circuit Court on Oct. 25.