IN ATHENS, Monday at 1:02 a.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity on Hole In The Wall Road.

7:42 a.m., vandalism was reported on Stickney Hill Road.

10:57 p.m., police made an arrest following a report of a domestic disturbance on Taylor Road.

IN BINGHAM, Monday at 8:59 a.m., fire units were sent to a call on Main Street.

10:53 a.m., a fire or a smoke investigation was reported on Lane Road.

IN CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Tuesday at 12:31 p.m., a caller from Grand Summit Lane reported a person was missing.

IN CLINTON, Monday at 12:11 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Johnson Flat Road.

4:06 p.m., a dispute was reported on Hinckley Road.

IN CORNVILLE, Monday at 6:32 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Spurwink Lane.

IN EMBDEN, Monday at 11:22 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Kennebec River Road.

IN FAIRFIELD, Monday at 9:56 a.m., suspicious activity was reported on Ohio Hill Road.

11:34 a.m., a harassment complaint was taken from Lawrence Avenue.

11:41 a.m., a scam complaint was investigated on Cottage Street.

1:05 p.m., a scam complaint was taken from Pirate Lane.

2:23 p.m., a scam complaint was taken from Faiths Way.

10:15 p.m., an assault was reported on King Street.

Tuesday at 7:43 a.m., criminal mischief was reported on Main Street.

9:36 a.m., criminal mischief was reported on Elm Street.

9:49 a.m., criminal mischief was reported on Summit Street.

9:55 a.m., criminal mischief was reported on High Street.

IN FARMINGTON, Monday at 1:38 a.m., noise was reported on Perham Street.

8:36 a.m., officials received a late report of a domestic assault on Marvel Street.

1:50 p.m., a case involving theft or fraud was reported on Quebec Street at University of Maine.

3:18 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Town Farm Road.

6:03 p.m., harassment was reported on Marvel Street.

Tuesday at 7:39 a.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on Main Street.

8:15 a.m., vandalism and criminal mischief were reported on Franklin Avenue.

1:05 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Marvel Street.

IN HARMONY, Monday at 9:49 a.m., police and rescue were sent to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Main Street. No injuries were reported.

IN NORRIDGEWOCK, Monday at 11:57 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Martin Stream Road.

IN MADISON, Monday at 6:43 p.m., fire units were briefly dispatched to a report of a watercraft in distress.

6:54 p.m., a person was taken to the hospital following a report of a domestic disturbance on Nichols Street.

Tuesday at 2:42 a.m., police were called to assist another agency on Nichols Street.

7:57 a.m., vandalism was reported on Thurston Hill Road.

IN NEW SHARON, Tuesday at 8:54 a.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on Farmington Falls Road.

IN OAKLAND, Monday at 9:54 a.m., a theft was reported on Oak Street.

5:32 p.m., a caller from Heath Street reported an unwanted person on the premises.

IN PHILLIPS, Monday at 4:41 p.m., vandalism and criminal mischief were reported on Park Street.

IN RANGELEY, Monday at 2:56 p.m., vandalism and criminal mischief were reported on Main Street.

IN ST. ALBANS, Monday at 6:48 p.m., an auto theft was reported on Devil’s Head Road.

IN SKOWHEGAN, Monday at 4:54 a.m., police were called to assist another agency on Waterville Road.

10:17 a.m., vandalism was reported on Water Street.

1:31 p.m., an abandoned vehicle was reported on North Avenue.

5:04 p.m., trespassing was reported on Main Street.

7:06 p.m., police made an arrest following a report of a disturbance on Hilltop Drive.

Tuesday at 2:03 a.m., police were called to assist another agency on Fairview Avenue.

4:26 a.m., fire units were sent to a smoke investigation on South Factory Street.

IN VASSALBORO, Monday at 12:39 p.m., a theft was reported on Cross Hill Road.

IN WATERVILLE, Monday at 7:42 a.m., a domestic dispute was reported at Budget Host Inn on Kennedy Memorial Drive.

9:27 a.m., a theft was reported on Summer Street.

1:52 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported on Spring Place.

4:23 p.m., an assault was reported at Freedom First/Addison Agency on Silver Street.

5:21 p.m., a domestic dispute was reported on Chaplin Street. A woman was summoned and charged with assault, according to the report.

6:25 p.m., a theft was reported on Brook Street.

6:42 p.m., threatening was reported on Drummond Avenue.

Tuesday at 12:24 a.m., a disturbance was reported on College Avenue.

1:06 a.m., a theft was reported at Budget Host Inn.

ARRESTS

IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, Monday at 6:05 p.m., Tabatha Lee Chabot, 35, of North New Portland, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

9:57 a.m., John B. Skofield II, 36, of Otisfield, was arrested and charged with operating without a license and operating after habitual offender revocation.

5:40 p.m., Robert Edward Cordes, 74, of Bellevue, Washington, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence.

7:40 p.m., Merrill David Maceda, 30, of Gardiner, was arrested and charged with OUI.

IN SOMERSET COUNTY, Monday at 7:58 p.m., Mark Joseph Cote, 31, of Skowhegan, was arrested on charges of violating conditions of release and assault.

8:54 p.m., John Anthoney Ricci, 58, of Starks, was arrested on a warrant from a complaint and indictment.

Tuesday at 12:44 a.m., David Jay Brown, 28, of Harmony, was arrested on charges of domestic violence assault, with priors, and domestic violence terrorizing, with priors.

IN WATERVILLE, Monday at 7:42 a.m., Kyra Pelletier, 23, of Norridgewock, was arrested and charged with domestic assault.

8:20 p.m., Vanessa Cayford, 43, of Waterville, was arrested and charged with two counts of violating conditions of release.

SUMMONS

IN WATERVILLE, Monday at 5:21 p.m., Nicole Gagne, 25, of Waterville, was summoned and charged with assault.

AUGUSTA — A Winslow man who kept drug money for his imprisoned son pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of conspiracy to commit unlawful drug trafficking.

Robert Delile, 64, was placed on deferred disposition for 12 months on the charge, and also agreed to forfeit the $2,130 seized from his home on Feb. 14.

If Delile completes 100 hours of community service work over the next year, the felony charge is to be reduced to a misdemeanor one of unlawful possession of drugs and he would be fined $400. If not, he is to be sentenced on the felony, according to the agreement approved by Justice Donald Marden.

“Mr. Delile has zero criminal history and has been a law-abiding citizen and employed his entire life,” the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Johnathan Nathans, told Marden in explaining why the case was suitable for a deferred disposition arrangement. “This was a brief moment of indiscretion within a limited time period.”

Delile’s attorney, Walter McKee, said, “Mr. Delile was in essence acting as the bank for his son, for lack of a better term.”

McKee said Robert Delile was honorably discharged from the Navy, had been a longtime volunteer in the community and retired after a 30-year career.

“Robert really got roped into this, but he did,” McKee said. “It was his son who made the request. He called hundreds of times to get him to do this.”

According to Nathans, there was a series of phone calls November 2017-February 2018, between Delile and his son, Darrick Delile, who is serving an aggravated drug-trafficking sentence at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, regarding Robert Delile holding proceeds from drug sales at his home. Nathans described other recorded phone calls between Darrick Delile and Jerica Reny.

Nathans told Marden that Reny, 28, of Sidney, drove to Massachusetts, with Seth Taylor as a passenger, to acquire drugs to sell in Waterville, and when she was stopped Jan. 31, 2018, after getting off the highway police recovered almost 60 grams of heroin.

Nathans said police worked with a cooperating individual and set up a controlled delivery of money to Robert Delile that was then stored in a safe in his home. Nathans said there were recorded conversations between the father and son about the money left in the basement.

When police executed a search warrant at Robert Delile’s home, they recovered $2,130, Nathans said.

He also told Marden that the other individuals involved face aggravated drug trafficking charges.

Shortly after Robert Delile’s hearing, Reny appeared in court with her attorney, Thomas J. Nale, and pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with aggravated trafficking in heroin/fentanyl in connection with the same incident.

Taylor, 27, of Fairfield, and Darrick Delile, 39, have been indicted on the same charge.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

IN AUGUSTA, on Monday at 8:42 a.m., a disturbance was reported by a Oxford Street caller.

9:46 a.m., a disturbance was reported by a Court Street caller.

11:04 a.m., a Riverside Drive caller reported trespassing.

11:23 a.m., police investigated harassment reported by a Union Street caller.

11:39 a.m., suspicious activity was reported by an Eastern Avenue caller.

1:16 p.m., suspicious activity was reported by a Worcester Street caller.

3:44 p.m., police investigated a disturbance near Green Street and Water Street.

3:53 p.m., a Civic Center Drive caller reported an animal problem.

4:20 p.m., a Burns Road caller reported an animal problem.

5:23 p.m., a Stephen King Drive caller reported a disturbance.

5:30 p.m., police investigated a reported trespassing on Stephen King Drive.

5:47 p.m., a Cony Street caller reported a disturbance.

5:56 p.m., a Gannett Street caller reported suspicious activity.

5:58 p.m., police investigated a North Street Place caller’s report of a dog at large.

6:42 p.m., police recovered property on Washington Street.

7:37 p.m., a Summer Street caller reported suspicious activity.

9:05 p.m., a Middle Street caller reported a disturbance.

9:08 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity reported by a Page Street caller.

On Tuesday at 1:39 a.m., police investigated a reported domestic disturbance on Bangor Street.

IN GARDINER, on Friday at 11:26 a.m., police investigated a disturbance near Brunswick Avenue.

7:55 p.m., police conducted an investigation regarding property recovered on Church Street.

On Saturday at 12:30 p.m., a Highland Avenue caller reported an animal problem.

IN MONMOUTH, on Friday at 1:57 p.m., police investigated a report of suspicious activity on River Avenue.

10:31 p.m., suspicious activity was reported by a caller near the Monmouth Town Office.

On Monday at 9:59 p.m., a theft was reported by a North Main Street caller.

IN WEST GARDINER, on Sunday at 9:05 p.m., police investigated a disturbance near Hinckley Road.

IN WINTHROP, on Monday at 10:25 p.m., a Memorial Drive caller reported an animal problem.

ARRESTS

IN AUGUSTA, on Monday at 1:52 p.m., James Clifford, 51, of Augusta, was arrested on charges of theft after police responded to a report of shoplifting on Cony Street. He has two prior charges of theft.

On Tuesday at 4:52 a.m., two arrests were made after suspicious activity was reported on West River Road. The full report was not immediately available.

IN GARDINER, on Friday at 2 p.m., an arrest on was made on Spring Street. The full report was not immediately available.

IN MONMOUTH, on Friday at 1:39 p.m., an arrest was made following a welfare check on Main Street. The full report was not immediately available.

SUMMONSES

IN AUGUSTA, on Monday at 1:52 p.m., Ann Meserve, 46, of Augusta, was arrested on charges of theft of property under $500 after police responded to a report of shoplifting on Cony Street.

At 10:36 p.m., Scott Holbrook, 54, of Augusta, was summonsed on charges of possession of a scheduled drug and violating conditions of his release following an investigation on Page Street.

IN FARMINGDALE, on Monday at 4:20 p.m., James Michaud, 34, of Farmingdale, was summonsed on charges of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct during a follow-up investigation by police.

A Litchfield man was sentenced to serve an initial three years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to visual sexual aggression against a child under 12.

Daniel S. Gauthier, 46, entered the plea Tuesday at the Capital Judicial Center under the Alford doctrine, indicating he believed he would be convicted if a jury believed the evidence the state has.

The full sentence imposed by Justice Donald Marden — and supported by attorneys for the state and the defense — was five years in prison with all but the initial three suspended while Gauthier spends four years on probation.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Frayla Tarpinian, said the offense occurred on Gauthier’s property between July 2013 and July 2017.

Gauthier’s attorney, Wenonah Wirick, said that while Gauthier disagreed with some facts in the case, “It’s clear to me he does not want (the victim) to go through testifying … Somebody did something to her; he denies it was him.”

Gauthier told the judge he wanted to plead guilty “for the sake of (the victim’s) mental health.”

Conditions of probation require Gauthier to undergo sex offender counseling and prohibit him from contact with the victim and all children under 16. He was also ordered to register for 25 years under the state’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said afterward, “He does serve prison time, he does have a felony conviction and he is going to be on the sex offender registry.”

Wirick told the judge that the plea agreement was the result of extensive negotiations with the state and based partly on “the compelling nature of the testimony.” Wirick noted that initially Gauthier was charged with gross sexual assault on a child under 12, which carried a much greater penalty. Gauthier had been arrested on that charge in March. Other charges were dismissed in exchange for the plea.

Gauther was ordered to report to jail in Dec. 1 to begin serving the initial period of incarceration.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

AUBURN — A South Paris man was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for stabbing his girlfriend’s estranged husband at a Lewiston barbershop in December.

Michael Barrucci

Michael Barrucci, 24, pleaded guilty last week to aggravated assault in a so-called Alford plea, meaning he continued to deny the charge for the record, but agreed to plead guilty in light of the prosecution’s evidence. The plea carries all the weight of a conviction.

An Androscoggin County Superior Court judge sentenced him to 10 years, but suspended six years of that sentence. He will be on probation for four years after his release from prison.

Charges of attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault and a second charge of aggravated assault were dismissed.

Barrucci had been facing a maximum sentence of 30 years on each of the counts of attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault, if convicted.

When police responded to the scene of Major Cuts barbershop on Chestnut Street on Dec. 6, they found Rashad Robinson, 36, lying on his back at the entrance to the barbershop, a large laceration in his chest and a large pool of blood near his abdomen, court papers state.

Inside the shop, Barrucci, covered in blood, stood holding a brown folding knife. He was ordered to drop it, which he did, police said in court papers.

A hospital nurse had detailed Robinson’s stab wounds to include two to his back, one across his chest, one in his stomach area and one under each armpit (one of those struck an artery). Also during the fight, his spleen and diaphragm were damaged, according to court papers.

Robinson told police he had been getting a haircut shortly before the shop was to close that day. He said his wife had “set me up” because she entered the shop with Barrucci while Robinson was in the barber’s chair and had known that he would be there at that time. She later disputed that assertion.

A barber told police that Robinson had gotten out of his chair and had approached Barrucci and Robinson’s estranged wife when they entered the shop. The two men were standing when they started fighting but ended up on the floor, according to witnesses interviewed by police.

When police arrived, Barrucci was shouting into his cellphone: “I was trying to kill the (expletive),” court documents state.

Barrucci’s attorney, Adam Sherman, had told a judge at an earlier hearing that his client was attacked by Robinson and had been defending himself that day. He said their meeting had been a “chance” encounter.

When Barrucci is freed from prison, he must undergo mental evaluation, counseling and treatment, have no contact with Robinson and not have any dangerous weapons for the four years of his probation.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

IN CANAAN, Tuesday at 7:47 p.m., a scam was reported on Hill Road.

IN CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Tuesday at 7:39 a.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on Main Street.

IN CLINTON, Tuesday at 12:55 p.m., sex offenses were reported on Park Avenue.

3:30 p.m., a caller from Lamb Avenue reported a person was missing.

IN FAIRFIELD, Tuesday at 7:43 a.m., mischief was reported on Main Street.

9:36 a.m., mischief was reported on Elm Street.

9:49 a.m., mischief was reported on Summit Street.

9:55 a.m., mischief was reported on High Street.

1:03 p.m., mischief was reported on Main Street.

1:56 p.m., harassment was reported at Police Plaza.

2:10 p.m., vandalism was reported on Summit Street.

2:25 p.m., a report of theft led to an arrest on Skowhegan Road.

3:30 p.m., burglary was reported on Gordon Place.

7:16 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Island Avenue.

IN FARMINGTON, Tuesday at 8:15 a.m., vandalism and criminal mischief were reported on Franklin Avenue.

1:05 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Marvel Street.

3:12 p.m., harassment was reported on Franklin Avenue.

9:14 p.m., juvenile offenses were reported on Farmington Falls Road.

10:14 p.m., harassment was reported on Whittier Road.

IN MADISON, Tuesday at 7:57 a.m., vandalism was reported on Thurston Hill Road.

1:36 p.m., a domestic disturbance was reported on Claray Drive.

4:27 p.m., theft was reported on Petral Road.

IN NEW SHARON, Tuesday at 8:54 a.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on Farmington Falls Road.

IN NORRIDGEWOCK, Tuesday at 10:23 a.m., suspicious activity was reported on Winding Hill Road.

6:57 p.m., theft was reported on Waterville Road.

IN OAKLAND, Tuesday at 6:24 a.m., a theft was reported on Heath Street.

IN PITTSFIELD, Tuesday at 5:12 p.m., a scam was reported on Westbranch Court.

IN ROCKWOOD, Tuesday at 4:22 p.m., theft was reported on Lakeshore Drive.

IN SKOWHEGAN, Tuesday at 12:06 p.m., harassment was reported on Ruth Lane.

2:59 p.m., harassment was reported on Adams Street.

4:54 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Waterville Road.

6:10 p.m., disturbance was reported on Spring Street.

6:51 p.m., burglary was reported on West Front Street.

6:53 p.m., theft was reported on Big Bird Street.

7:30 p.m., disturbance was reported on Waterville Road.

8:19 p.m., disturbance was reported on Waterville Road.

8:34 p.m., harassment was reported on Waye Street.

IN TEMPLE, Tuesday at 2:46 p.m., threatening was reported near Intervale and Center Hill roads.

IN WATERVILLE, Tuesday at 8:16 a.m., a theft was reported on Gold Street.

8:58 a.m., a disturbance was reported at Dollar General on The Concourse.

9:10 a.m., criminal mischief was reported at Corvettes North on College Avenue.

9:18 a.m., a theft was reported on Morrill Avenue.

9:25 a.m., a caller from Banknorth on Main Street reported an unwanted person on the premises.

10:24 a.m., criminal mischief was reported at McEwen Auto on College Avenue.

10:44 a.m., a disturbance was reported at Kennebec Behavioral Health Center on Eustis Parkway.

11:06 a.m., a drug offense was reported on Redington Street.

11:32 a.m., a theft was reported at Mount Saint Joseph Nursing Home on Highwood Street.

11:34 a.m., a domestic dispute was reported on Oak Street.

1:03 p.m., a domestic dispute was reported on Myrtle Street. A man was arrested and charged with domestic violence assault, according to the report.

1:28 p.m., a shoplifter was reported at Walmart on Waterville Commons Drive.

4:37 p.m., a theft was reported on Western Avenue.

4:48 p.m., a caller from Waterville Public Library on Elm Street reported a person was missing.

5:21 p.m., harassment was reported on Edgemont Avenue.

5:56 p.m., a disturbance was reported on College Avenue.

8:02 p.m., harassment was reported on Elm Street.

8:05 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street.

9 p.m., a caller from Burger King on College Avenue reported an unwanted person on the premises.

IN WELD, Tuesday at 3:52 p.m., a burglary was reported on Center Hill Road.

IN WILTON, Tuesday at 5:19 p.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on U.S. Route 2.

11:39 p.m., vandalism and criminal mischief were reported on Sunrise Avenue.

IN WINSLOW, Tuesday at 1:37 p.m., a drug offense was reported on Baker Street.

2:18 p.m., a case involving forgery or fraud was reported to the Police Department.

Wednesday at 12:05 a.m., a caller from Elm Street reported an unwanted person on the premises.

12:27 a.m., a domestic dispute was reported on Elm Street.

1:42 a.m., a caller from Sherwin Street reported an unwanted person on the premises.

1:43 a.m., noise was reported near Gold Street and Gray Avenue.

ARRESTS

IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tuesday at 9:20 a.m., Shelly Maxine Rose, 54, of Farmington, was arrested on a warrant.

10:54 a.m., Ryan M. Philbrick, 27, of Farmington, was arrested on a warrant.

1:27 p.m., Ryan Cunningham, 28, of Farmington, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

2:35 p.m., Ronald E. Tarckini, 66, of Jay, was arrested on a warrant.

6:55 p.m., David B. Hutchison Jr., 37, of Jay, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence.

8:50 p.m., Jody Patrick Morris, 42, of Wilton, was arrested on a warrant.

IN SOMERSET COUNTY, Tuesday at 12:33 p.m., Andrew Edward Swanson, 40, of Cornville, was arrested on charges of aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of heroin and unlawful possession of scheduled drug.

5:08 p.m., Tyler Kenneth Dorsey, 29, of Hinckley, was arrested on charges of theft and unlawful possession of scheduled drug.

8:48 p.m., David Roy Bateman, 49, of St. Albans, was arrested on two warrants for violation of bail.

IN WATERVILLE, Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., Charles Eldon, 43, of Waterville, was arrested and charged with domestic assault.

IN WINSLOW, Wednesday at 12:06 a.m., Mitchell Wayne Gilley, 49, of Waterville, was arrested and charged with failing to obtain a driver’s license, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, failure to give correct name, address or date of birth and OUI.

SUMMONSES

IN WATERVILLE, Tuesday at 4:13 p.m., Andrew R. Burgess, 42, of Waterville, was arrested and charged with operating while license suspended or revoked.

9:32 p.m., Tonya Leigh Price, 36, of Winslow, was summonsed and charged with operating while license suspended or revoked.

9:56 p.m., Hallie L. Stevens, 32, of Waterville, was summonsed and charged with operating while license suspended or revoked.

IN AUGUSTA, Tuesday at 8:32 a.m., suspicious activity was reported on Western Avenue.

9:03 a.m., needles were recovered on State Street.

9:58 a.m., a mental health and well-being check was done on Winthrop Street.

10:38 a.m., a mental health and well-being check was done on Industrial Drive.

11:12 a.m., suspicious activity was reported on Pierce Drive.

11:41 a.m., theft was reported on Crossing Way.

1:02 p.m., an overdose rescue was done on Green Street.

1:40 p.m., fraud was reported on Stephen King Drive.

1:41 p.m., a hit-and-run traffic accident was reported on Western Avenue.

1:56 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on New England Road.

2:02 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Village Circle.

2:04 p.m., burglary from a motor vehicle was reported on Village Circle.

5:44 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Civic Center Drive and Old Belgrade Road.

5:47 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Civic Center Drive and Wilson Street.

6:27 p.m., a past burglary was reported on Cedar Court.

7:14 p.m., criminal trespassing was reported on Falcon Circle.

7:32 p.m., theft was reported on Mount Vernon Avenue.

7:44 p.m., a well-being check was done on Ridge Road.

7:47 p.m., a mental health and well-being check was done on Western Avenue.

8:01 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Crosby Street.

8:02 p.m., disorderly conduct was reported on Sparrow Drive.

9:52 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Noyes Court.

11:52 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on New England Road.

IN GARDINER, Tuesday at 9:14 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Maple Street.

IN MONMOUTH, Tuesday at 8:29 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on U.S. Route 202.

8:56 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Route 135.

ARRESTS

IN AUGUSTA, Tuesday at 9:14 a.m., Dakota Lloyd Brann, 21, of Augusta, was arrested on a probation hold, on Crosby Street.

9:27 p.m., Alisha L. Jamieson, 24, of Augusta, was arrested on a warrant, on Medical Center Parkway.

TOPSHAM — A Poland man allegedly stole more than $200,000 and equipment from a Topsham construction equipment supplier, according to police.

Georges Gendron, 65, of Poland, is facing felony charges for the alleged crimes that took place while he worked for Coastal Metal Fabrication, known as DownEaster Manufacturing.

Gendron worked as controller at the construction equipment manufacturer. He was indicted on two counts of Class B theft, a count of Class B aggravated forgery, and Class C counts of forgery, theft, and misdemeanor misuse of entrusted property and falsifying private records.

Topsham police executed a search warrant of Gendron’s Poland home on June 15. Investigators seized four laptops, several thumb drives and legal documents from the home.

The charges against Gendron allege that he stole at least $10,000, and a DownEaster dump trailer valued at more than $1,000. He also is charged with forging a sales invoice worth more than $1,000 and falsifying records. He allegedly committed the crimes over a three-year span starting in 2014 while he was an employee at the company.

In a search warrant affidavit submitted by Topsham police Detective Mark LaFountain, the company’s current controller Mark Berger told investigators he found “significant evidence of employee theft.” Berger replaced Gendron as controller in December of 2017, and began to uncover the signs of internal theft in March of 2018 while examining company accounting records, according to court records.

Berger told police a large portion of the theft was made through unauthorized checks. He also discovered evidence that a legitimate sales invoice had been altered and applied to the sale of Gendron’s trailer.

The affidavit also states Gendron had access to the company’s online banking and could log in remotely. He allegedly did not make appropriate insurance deductions from his paychecks, totaling $24,153, according to Berger’s calculation.

Berger’s findings show the unauthorized checks allegedly began in April 2015, and continued until November of 2017, when Gendron left the company. The document states Berger believes the checks were spread out over many expense accounts to minimize the financial impact, but the alleged theft totaled more than $200,000.

The Bangor Daily News reports that Gendron was charged on June 21, and that he was released on $50,000 unsecured bail that day.

Gendron was forced to surrender his passport as a condition of his bail. His attorney, Leonard I. Sharon, has filed a motion to have the passport returned so Gendron can visit his ill mother in Quebec. Sagadahoc County Assistant District Attorney A.J. Chalifour is prosecuting the case and has objected to that motion.

Gendron is scheduled to be arraigned in West Bath District Court on Sept. 11. Sharon did not return a phone call for comment Tuesday.

AUGUSTA — The family of the Massachusetts woman found dead in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car following his death by suicide in Gardiner is working to turn their tragedy into help for victims of domestic abuse.

“It’s hard to grasp that my sister is no longer here,” Maddilyn Burgess’s sister McKenzie told News Center Maine on Sept. 4. “Part of me feels like it’s not even real, that this is just a horrible nightmare.

“She was so full of life and joy and happiness,” she added. “I don’t want anyone else to feel how I feel. It’s gut-wrenching and mortifying.”

Maddilyn Burgess, 28, of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, was found dead in the trunk of a vehicle driven by her boyfriend Gyrth Rutan, 34, formerly of Bangor. Police pulled him over on Timberwood Drive in Gardiner after observing him driving erratically on Interstate 295 on Aug. 9. Rutan then shot himself in the head with a shotgun, resulting in his death.

The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office identified Maddilyn Burgess’s body on Aug. 13 and said the cause of her death was blunt force trauma. They also confirmed that Rutan’s apartment in Sturbridge had “evidence of a crime scene” and the incident was being investigated as a homicide.

WCDA spokesperson Lindsay Corcoran said Tuesday that no information has been released since the Aug. 13 press release.

Burgess’s parents told WBZ-TV in Boston last month that their daughter was a victim of domestic abuse. They said Maddilyn Burgess had a restraining order against Rutan in June, but they were seeing each other again shortly after.

“I knew something was wrong as soon as the officers asked me my name and came into the house,” her mother Cindy Ciani told reporters. “I fell to the floor and the only thing I could say was, ‘No, no, no, my baby girl.'”

McKenzie Burgess and other family members have started a GoFundMe page to help start the “Maddy Rose Foundation,” which aims to help victims of domestic abuse in Maine and Central Massachusetts.

“It is OK to speak up and say I’m scared, I need help, I am in fear of my life,” McKenzie Burgess said. “We want to make sure that people know that they have a safe place that they can go.

“She didn’t have a place she felt she could go and be safe and that’s not right,” she added.

The GoFundMe raised $6,093 of the $100,000 goal from 66 donations at press time.

McKenzie Burgess’s mother-in-law Patty Smith, who is helping form the foundation, told News Center Maine that helping victims of abuse could be therapeutic to Maddilyn Burgess’ family.

“Helping her to help other people I think will be a lot of really great self-therapy for her,” Smith said.

The family’s goal is to raise enough money to create a nonprofit foundation to fund a safe house in Massachusetts and a closet full of essentials here in Maine. Maddy’s House would be located in Central Massachusetts and Maddy’s Closet would be in Maine.

“It’s sad, it’s a tragedy and I don’t want another family to go through with mine did,” McKenzie Burgess said. “If we can save one person, then my sister’s death won’t be in vain.”

Francine Garland Stark, executive director of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, told the Kennebec Journal last month that when victims of abuse return to their abuser, the blame should be put firmly on the abuser for ensuing trouble.

“[What] we know is that the abuse doesn’t stop until the perpetrator of abuse decides to stop,” she said. “Most of the time, when we see domestic violence homicide, it’s when the victim of abuse says they are leaving and not going to reconcile with this person.”

Garland Stark said work needs to be done at the cultural level to deal with abusers’ belief that abusive behavior is acceptable.

“Our cultural focus seems to continually be, ‘Why would the victim of abuse be willing to give their abuser more chances?'” she said. “How can we interrupt the idea that (abusers) can treat people this way in an intimate relationship so nobody believes they have a right to do harm?”

Donations are also being accepted to the Maddilyn Rose Memorial Fund for Battered Women at Daybreak at the Central Massachusetts YWCA.

McKenzie Burgess was not available for comment by press time.

Sam Shepherd — 621-5666

sshepherd@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @SamShepME

LEWISTON — A 35-year-old man was stabbed in the neck Wednesday afternoon during a fight on Knox Street, police said.

Raynold L. Labree

Hours after the knifing, police arrested Raynold L. Labree III, 34, of Lisbon. He was charged with elevated aggravated assault.

The victim, who was not identified, was being evaluated Wednesday night at Central Maine Medical Center. His condition was unknown.

Police roped off an area near the corner of Knox and Maple streets at about 3:30 p.m. after a man was seen stumbling out of a parking lot bleeding from the neck. Witnesses said the man collapsed in the middle of Knox Street.

Witnesses said it appeared the man had come from an apartment complex at Knox and Maple streets. Police blocked off an apartment unit there as several detectives began an investigation.

Labree was being held Wednesday night at the Androscoggin County Jail.

It was not immediately clear what motivated the stabbing, police said. They were continuing to investigate Wednesday night.

As police dealt with that stabbing, a woman was reported to have stabbed herself inside an apartment on Bartlett Street.

Police and paramedics went to that building at 108 Bartlett St., and treated the woman. Her wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.

The Bartlett Street stabbing followed a report of a large fight involving several people with baseball bats. It was not clear whether the two incidents were related.

Three Florida residents were sentenced to prison Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland for credit card fraud committed in Maine.

Alejandro Caal, 46, of Tampa, 26-year-old Adrian Teruel of Orlando and 52-year-old Olga Valido of Kissimmee were sentenced by Chief Judge Nancy Torresen for access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank said in a news release.

Court records show that between October 2016 and March 2017, the defendants used stolen credit and debit card numbers belonging to Maine residents to fraudulently purchase merchandise and gift cards at Maine stores.

Judge Torresen sentenced Caal to 10 months in prison, Teruel to one year in prison, and Valido to nine months.

A fourth defendant, Zulairam Ramos, pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 3 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4.

The fraud case was investigated by police departments in Falmouth, Augusta, Scarborough, South Portland and Winthrop, as well as the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service.

One of the Biddeford men indicted on federal hate crime charges after an alleged assault on a black man has been released on bail while the case is pending, but the other will remain in custody.

Maurice Diggins, 34, and Dusty Leo, 27, are accused of assaulting the man outside a convenience store while repeatedly shouting a racial slur. They were indicted by a federal grand jury last month, and each has been charged with a hate crime and conspiracy to commit a hate crime.

Attorneys for both men have said they deny the charges and will fight them in court.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office had asked a judge to detain the two men until trial, and Diggins and Leo appeared in U.S. District Court in Portland on separate days this week for hearings on those motions.

Court documents show that Diggins on Tuesday waived his right to a detention hearing and agreed to be held in custody pending trial. But Leo’s attorney and the prosecutor agreed Wednesday to a set of bail conditions, including a curfew and a $10,000 appearance bond. He has a less extensive criminal record than his co-defendant, who was on state probation at the time of the alleged attack.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” U.S. Magistrate Judge John Rich III told Leo during the hearing. “If you do well, that will be a plus in your favor. If you do poorly, you’ll be in worse shape than if you had stayed in jail pending trial.”

According to the indictment, Diggins and Leo were together in a pickup truck when they sped into the parking lot of a 7-Eleven in Biddeford on April 15 and shouted at an African-American man who was walking toward the store entrance.

“Who you eyeballing, (racial slur)?” Diggins shouted, according to court records. Diggins then got out of the truck and approached the man, repeating his question.

The indictment states that Diggins then blocked the man’s access to the store entrance. Leo allegedly got out of the vehicle and struck the man on the head.

The victim then staggered backward, and when Diggins approached, the victim fell to the ground. The indictment states that when he got to his feet and ran away, Leo chased him across the parking lot.

“The defendants shouted words to the effect of ‘Go on, run, (racial slur),” prosecutors allege in the indictment.

Diggins and Leo then got back into the truck and drove after the victim, again shouting the racial epithet, it says. He escaped by running down a side alley.

The victim is only identified as D.M. in the indictment. His injuries from the alleged encounter included a broken jaw.

Each man was initially charged in state court with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of interfering with someone’s constitutional rights. The aggravated assault charges are Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a $20,000 fine. Those cases are still pending in York County Superior Court.

The Maine Attorney General’s Office also filed a civil rights complaint against them in May. Neither of the men appeared for that case, and a judge issued a permanent injunction ordering both of them to not have any further contact with the victim or face up to 364 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

That complaint prompted a rally and a march in Biddeford protesting the alleged attack.

The two men were then indicted on the federal charges last month. Each faces up to 10 years in prison on the hate crime charge and five years in prison on the conspiracy and $250,000 in fines for each count, according to federal court records.

Leo has a criminal record that includes convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, trafficking in dangerous knives and two OUIs, according to the State Bureau of Identification.

Diggins has an extensive criminal history that began in 2003 and includes multiple convictions for theft and burglary, and has been in and out of state prison, according to the State Bureau of Identification.

Leo was taken back to the Strafford County Jail in New Hampshire, which is the nearest federal detention facility and where he had been held previously. He was released Wednesday afternoon and is being monitored through an ankle bracelet. He was ordered to have no contact with his co-defendant or the victim, and is required to report for work at his job at a building company.

It is unclear where Diggins is being held.

Megan Doyle can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

mdoyle@pressherald.com

Twitter: megan_e_doyle

A judge in Hancock County set bail Wednesday at $1,000 each for two men accused of stealing and killing a dog that later washed up onto the waterfront property of the district attorney after being shot and placed in a plastic bag.

Nathan A. Burke, 37, of Hancock and Justin T. Chipman, 22, of Steuben and Winter Harbor, turned themselves in at the Hancock County Jail on Tuesday. They appeared in court Wednesday. While Superior Court Justice Robert Murray set bail for each defendant at $1,000 cash, Chipman will not be allowed to post bail before a Sept. 25 hearing because he was on administrative release for a terrorizing conviction at the time he is accused of burglarizing a home and killing the dog.

The bizarre case began Aug. 26, when a Winter Harbor resident reported that his home was broken into, his Hummer was stolen and returned damaged and he could not find his dog, a Boston terrier-pug mix named Franky.

Phillip Torrey told police that someone had entered his house while he was traveling to New Hampshire for a concert, the Ellsworth American reported. Burglars had stolen Torrey’s Hummer SUV, went mudding with it and damaged the SUV and stole his dog, police told the newspaper.

Last Thursday, the dog’s body washed up on a beach at the coastal home of Hancock County District Attorney Matt Foster. Foster and his family reside in Hancock, which sits across Frenchman Bay from Winter Harbor and Bar Harbor.

Foster told the Ellsworth American that his wife saw the bag containing the dog’s body and called her husband outside.

“She thought it looked suspicious and so I opened it to see what was in there because it didn’t look like normal garbage,” Foster told the newspaper.

Foster and his wife are witnesses in the case, even as his office will handle the prosecution.

“Unfortunately, my being a witness means that I can’t personally handle the case in court, but it does not mean that this office can’t handle it,” Foster said. “(Deputy District Attorney Toff) Toffolon will be handling the case.”

Winter Harbor Police Chief Danny Mitchell Jr. issued warrants for the men on Saturday. Mitchell has said that Burke had been employed by Torrey, the dog’s owner.

Burke and Chipman have been charged with one count each of aggravated cruelty to animals, aggravated criminal mischief, burglary, theft and unauthorized use of property.

Police have said the dog’s remains are being analyzed by a lab, apparently to determine a cause of death or to develop other evidence about what happened to it.

Torrey told News Center Maine that he had considered the two men friends. He also said he has been getting a lot of support from people outraged by the incident.

“Animals are innocent,” Torrey told News Center Maine. “They’re like kids, you know what I mean? No one speaks for animals and there’s horrible things that happen to them, you know, neglect and abuse and everything.”

Mitchell, the police chief, told News Center that the court hearing Wednesday is the “first step in getting closure for the family, the community, and getting justice served for this horrific crime.”

John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:

jrichardson@pressherald.com

IN ATHENS, Wednesday at 8:05 p.m., police made an arrest following a report of a medical emergency on Fox Hill Road.

IN BINGHAM, Wednesday at 4:50 p.m., a theft was reported on Murray Street.

IN CAMBRIDGE, Wednesday at 9:57 p.m., a domestic disturbance was reported on North Road.

IN CANAAN, Wednesday at 2:50 a.m., suspicious activity was reported on Hill Road.

IN CLINTON, Wednesday at 11:25 a.m., threatening was reported at Brown Memorial Library on Railroad Street.

IN DETROIT, Wednesday at 11:32 a.m., a theft was reported on Main Street.

IN EMBDEN, Wednesday at 11:45 a.m., trespass was reported on Getchell Road.

11:48 a.m., a complaint was taken from Getchell Road.

10:09 p.m., a threatening complaint was taken from Getchell Road.

IN EUSTIS, Wednesday at 10:31 p.m., a domestic disturbance was reported on Arnold Trail.

IN FAIRFIELD, Wednesday at 8:49 a.m., a citation or a warning was issued following a report of shoplifting on Main Street.

1:52 p.m., a scam complaint was taken from Pirate Lane.

4:02 p.m., threatening was reported on Burrill Street.

4:08 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Skowhegan Road.

4:14 p.m., suspicious activity was reported on Skowhegan Road.

4:47 p.m., a theft was reported on Western Avenue.

9:02 p.m., police were called to assist another agency on Bray Avenue.

IN FARMINGTON, Wednesday at 4:01 p.m., a caller from Middle Street reported a person was missing.

5:26 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Industry Road.

IN KINGFIELD, Wednesday at 12:17 p.m., trespassing was reported on Main Street.

IN MADISON, Wednesday at 1:03 p.m., a disturbance was reported on White School House Road.

1:08 p.m., a caller from Main Street reported a driver had passed a school bus this morning.

2:37 p.m., a complaint was taken from River Road.

5:14 p.m., trespass was reported on Emerald Acres Drive.

7:15 p.m., a harassment complaint was taken from East Madison Road.

Thursday at 7:32 a.m., a disturbance was reported on Main Street.

9:21 a.m., a complaint was taken from Learners Lane.

IN MADRID TOWNSHIP, Wednesday at 9:12 p.m., a road hazard was reported on Rangeley Road.

IN MERCER, Wednesday at 2:24 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Elm Street.

IN MOSCOW, Wednesday at 3:13 p.m., a burglary was reported on Stream Road.

3:16 p.m., a burglary was reported on Stream Road.

4:10 p.m., police were called to assist another agency on Canada Road.

IN NEW PORTLAND, Thursday at 3:31 a.m., a harassment complaint was taken from River Road.

4 a.m., a harassment complaint was taken from River Road.

IN NORRIDGEWOCK, Wednesday at 9:06 a.m., trespass was reported on Winding Hill Road.

IN OAKLAND, Wednesday at 7:47 a.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on Kennedy Memorial Drive.

8:56 a.m., sex offenses were reported on Fairfield Street.

9:18 a.m., criminal trespass was reported on Savage Trail.

5:28 p.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on Kennedy Memorial Drive.

IN PITTSFIELD, Thursday at 8:45 a.m., a fire, possible hazardous materials, was reported on Somerset Avenue.

IN SANDY RIVER PLANTATION, Wednesday at 2:21 p.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported on South Shore Drive.

IN SIDNEY, Wednesday at 6:41 a.m., a car-deer accident was reported on Pond Road.

IN SKOWHEGAN, Wednesday at 6 a.m., police were called to assist another agency on Fairview Avenue.

10:09 a.m., an auto theft was reported on Water Street.

10:32 a.m., a harassment complaint was taken from Water Street.

11:08 a.m., a warning was issued following a report of trespass on Water Street.

12:30 p.m., police were called to assist another agency on Water Street.

2:59 p.m., a noise complaint was taken from Water Street.

6:24 p.m., police were called to assist another agency on Island Avenue.

7:17 p.m., a warning was issued following a harassment complaint on Gilblair Street.

7:59 p.m., police made an arrest on Gilblair Street.

8:33 p.m., a harassment complaint was taken from Waterville Road and a warning was issued.

9:22 p.m., a warning was issued following a noise complaint on Oak Pond Road.

10:22 p.m., a threatening complaint was reported on Blah Street.

IN WATERVILLE, Wednesday at 8:18 a.m., traffic accident causing injury was reported at the intersection of Drummond Avenue and High Street.

2:10 p.m., a caller from Carquest Auto Parts on Kennedy Memorial Drive reported receiving bad checks.

3:13 p.m., a traffic accident causing injury was reported at the intersection of Western Avenue and Elm Street.

4:47 p.m., noise was reported on Redington Street.

5 p.m., a drug offense was reported at Burger King on College Avenue.

8:48 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Park Street.

Thursday at 1:09 a.m., a domestic disturbance was reported on Carver Street.

IN WILTON, Wednesday at 4:22 p.m., a disturbance was reported on Main Street.

4:06 p.m., a case involving forgery or fraud was reported on Pleasant Hill Drive.

IN WINSLOW, Wednesday at 8:09 a.m., a case involving forgery or fraud was reported on North Reynolds Road.

8:53 a.m., criminal mischief was reported on Bizier Avenue.

ARRESTS

IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tuesday at 8:50 p.m., Jody Patrick Morris, 42, of Wilton, was arrested on a warrant.

Wednesday at 6:01 p.m., Shane Howard Wright, 30, of Farmington, was arrested and charged with domestic violence criminal mischief.

6:50 p.m., Steven B. Blair, 54, of Jay, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

IN SOMERSET COUNTY, Wednesday at 5:12 p.m., Daigan C. Small, 18, of Bingham, was arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, driving to endanger and motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over the speed limit.

8:24 p.m., Steven David Farrell, 40, of Skowhegan, was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass.

IN WATERVILLE, Wednesday at 1:08 a.m., David Heuerman, 36, of Burnham, was arrested and charged with two counts of operating under the influence.

IN WINSLOW, Wednesday at 1:17 p.m., Spencer Gordon, 18, of Waterville, was arrested on a warrant.

AUGUSTA — After seven opiate overdoses in five days, the Augusta Police Department is warning people that a “highly lethal” supply of heroin has surfaced in Augusta.

“Investigators from the Augusta Police Department have been told that a supply of ‘killer’ heroin has landed in the Augusta area,” Deputy Chief Kevin Lully wrote in the Wednesday afternoon release.

Lully said the increase in overdoses took place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. It is not clear if any were fatal.

“Again, this heroin is highly lethal and the Augusta Police Department cautions anyone who may come into contact with it,” the release said.

The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Read said in a Thursday statement that his agency are aware of the lethal heroin.

“The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office would like to reiterate the message from the Augusta Police Department that there is a dangerous heroin product being distributed in Central Maine at this time that is potentially lethal,” the release said.

Read said on Sept. 3 that sheriff’s department personnel responded to Litchfield for a heroin overdose that required two doses of Narcan to revive the victim.

Neither Lully nor Augusta Police Chief Jared Mills were available for comment at press time.

Anyone with information on this highly lethal form of heroin is asked to contact the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement agency.

This story will be updated.

Sam Shepherd — 621-5666

sshepherd@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @SamShepME

IN AUGUSTA, on Wednesday at 6:41 a.m., a Bolton Hill Road caller reported a problem with a barking dog.

At 7:21 a.m., police investigated a reported theft on Crossing Way.

At 7:30 a.m., suspicious activity was reported by a Howard Street caller.

At 9:03 a.m., a disturbance was reported by a Lincoln Street caller.

At 9:40 a.m., an animal complaint was reported on Memorial Circle.

At 10:56 a.m., police investigated a reported theft on Stephen King Drive.

At 11:21 a.m., police investigated a report of harassment from an Anderson Lane caller.

At 1:02 p.m., police investigated a report of terrorizing from a Pierce Drive caller.

At 2:54 p.m., police conducted a pedestrian check near Cony Circle.

At 3:16 p.m., police investigated a report of harassment from a Union Street caller.

At 4:07 p.m., a disturbance was reported by a Chapel Street caller.

At 4:55 p.m., a disturbance was reported by a Glenridge Drive caller.

At 5:07 p.m., police investigated a reported theft on Civic Center Drive.

At 7:18 p.m., suspicious activity was reported by a New England Road caller.

At 7:54 p.m., suspicious activity was reported by an Old Winthrop Road caller.

At 8:44 p.m., police investigated an unattended death on Elm Street.

At 11:11 p.m., a pedestrian check was requested by a Water Street caller.

At 11:33 p.m., police investigated a disturbance reported by an Outlet Road caller.

On Thursday at 4:42 a.m., police conducted a pedestrian check on Northern Avenue.

IN MANCHESTER, on Wednesday at 3:48 p.m., police conducted a follow up investigation on Puddledock Road.

IN MOUNT VERNON, on Wednesday at 4:17 p.m., a Pond Road caller reported an assault.

ARRESTS

IN AUGUSTA, on Tuesday at 4:52 a.m., Michelle Lovejoy, 42, of Belgrade, was arrested on a charge of possession of a scheduled drug following a report of suspicious activity on West River Road.

On Wednesday at 8 a.m., Amber Hanson, 23, of Augusta, was arrested on an outstanding warrant following an attempt to locate her on River Street.

At 5:07 p.m., Christina Chaplin, 35, of Augusta, was arrested on a charge of theft after a report of shoplifting on Civic Center Drive.

At 9:08 p.m., Kyle Corrieri, 32, of Winthrop, was arrested on an outstanding warrant after he was located on New England Road.

SUMMONSES

IN AUGUSTA, on Wednesday at 7:46 a.m., a criminal summons was issued following a traffic stop near Commercial Street and Winthrop Street. The full report was not available at press time.

At 3:05 p.m., Jacob Noyes, 29, of Bowdoinham, was issued a summons on charges of operating a vehicle with a suspended registration and failure to register a vehicle following a traffic stop near Capital Street and Florence Street.

At 4:52 p.m., Michael St. Pierre, 39, of Augusta, was issued a summons on a charge of operating under the influence following a traffic stop on Bangor Street. St. Pierre has one prior charge of OUI on his record, according to police reports.

A Winthrop teen is set for a hearing next month where he is expected to plead guilty to killing both his parents and the family’s dog on Halloween morning in 2016.

Andrew Balcer, 19, is scheduled for a Rule 11 change of plea proceeding at the Capital Judicial Center Sept. 19 in front of Justice Daniel Billings.

Balcer previously pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with the intentional and knowing murders of Antonio and Alice Balcer and to aggravated cruelty to animals.

“He will be entering guilty pleas to all charges,” his attorney Walter McKee said via email on Thursday. “Sentencing will be in October, I expect.”

McKee said he had no other information to provide at the moment.

Assistant Attorney General Robert “Bud” Ellis, the prosecutor, also said he was aware of the scheduled change of plea by Balcer.

“That’s the arrangement,” Ellis said Thursday. “He’s to enter guilty pleas to all charges. The idea is to continue the case for a sentencing presentation.”

Ellis said there had been ongoing discussions between the prosecution and defense and that the change of plea was agreed upon in the past couple of weeks.

A 911 call brought police to the Balcer home at 10 Pine Knoll Road, where Antonio and Alice Balcer, both 47, were found stabbed to death on Oct. 31, 2016. Andrew Balcer was a month shy of his 18th birthday, and later bound over to be treated as an adult in the criminal justice system.

McKee had sought to have the case remain in the juvenile system.

Among audio recordings played at previous court hearings was one in which Balcer said, “I snapped. I don’t know why.”

At one hearing, Debra Baeder, chief forensic psychologist with the State Forensic Service, who evaluated Balcer several time, testified that Balcer had gender identity issues and “did not believe his parents would be supportive.”

Balcer, in a separate 911 recording played at the same hearing in October 2017, said he stabbed his mother, then stabbed his father when his father woke up upon hearing his wife’s screams.

On the recording, Balcer told police his mother was hugging him in his bedroom to try to comfort him when he plunged a knife into her back.

The 17-year-old continued to stab her as she fell onto his bed and then finally to the floor.

When his father ran into the bedroom, Balcer attacked him with the same knife, and their struggle left a trail of blood through to the kitchen, where Antonio Balcer died face-up on the floor.

That was how Balcer described the scene at the family’s home. The chief medical examiner testified that Alice Balcer was stabbed nine times and Antonio Balcer, 13 times.

Balcer recalled killing Lily, the family’s Chihuahua, to stop her barking that morning.

“I did not plan to stab the dog,” he said on the recording. “The dog was an unfortunate collateral damage. I had no intention of hurting any of the animals there.”

Andrew Balcer said he concocted the plan while in his room, went to the dining room of the home about 1:30 a.m. to get his Ka-Bar knife — which he used for gutting animals while hunting — and then went into the bedroom where his parents were sleeping.

Balcer spared his older brother, Christopher, who was downstairs and came up to investigate the noises. Christoper fled to a neighbor’s home and in an interview later said that he was unaware his brother was experiencing gender confusion or depression, and that said their parents would have supported Andrew.

Police took Andrew Balcer into custody without incident the morning of the slayings.

He spent about a year at Long Creek Youth Development Center and when Judge Eric Walker ruled in November 2017 that it was appropriate to treat Balcer as an adult, he was moved to the Kennebec County jail.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

SKOWHEGAN — A Skowhegan police detective was arrested Thursday on a charge of domestic violence assault.

Detective Sgt. Don E. Avery turned himself in at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison and was released after meeting with a bail commissioner, according to a statement from Police Chief David Bucknam.

Avery, 36, of Fairfield, was booked at the jail at 1:40 p.m. Thursday.

He has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal affairs investigation, which is standard procedure when incidents like that arise, Bucknam said.

The District Attorney’s Office is also reviewing the facts of the incident and the courts have sealed the warrant, therefore the facts and the allegations against Avery are not yet public, he said.

The booking log at the county jail indicates Avery was arrested on a warrant based on a complaint from an indictment.

“Both investigations are still very new,” Bucknam said. “The facts are still being gathered.”

Avery was hired in March 2016. His current annual salary is $51,667, according to Bucknam.

“As your police chief, I would like to stress that this agency is committed to transparency and I look forward to discussing this unfortunate incident more fully in the near future when the court system deems it appropriate,” Bucknam said in the statement. “Until that occurs, I want the residents to know that everyone in Skowhegan is accountable under the law. As unfortunate and sad as this incident is to me, let me be clear: No one in Skowhegan is above the law. Period.”

Avery was released on bail, but there is no information on a scheduled court date or if he has a lawyer yet.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow

A Topsham man and former postmaster was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty in June to sexually assaulting a female minor over a period of eight years.

Robert Welch, 63, pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual contact and two counts of gross sexual assault as part of a plea deal. All but one of the counts are Class B felonies subject to 10 years incarceration. One count of unlawful sexual contact is a Class C crime punishable by up to 5 years.

The abuse took place from 2008 to 2017, started when the victim was 7 years old and occurred regularly, according to Sagadahoc County District Attorney Jonathan Liberman.

After the sentencing, Welch was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, where he was to be transferred to the Maine Department of Corrections.

Topsham police arrested Welch on June 5, 2017. In August 2017, he was indicted by a Sagadahoc County grand jury on 20 sex crime charges, including 10 counts of unlawful sexual contact and 10 counts of gross sexual assault. As part of the plea agreement, all but six charges were dismissed.

Justice Daniel Billings sentenced Welch to 20 years, with all but 10 years suspended and six years of probation.

Upon his release, Welch will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He will undergo sex offender treatment and is prohibited from contact with children under the age of 16, from having any sexually explicit materials, and is subject to random search for electronic devices with internet access or storage capability. He is also prohibited from schools, parks or facilitates that cater to children.

“I can only imagine how difficult it is in a case like this when you’re essentially asked to come up with a sentence that fits with two people,” Liberman said. “And I say that because there’s the Robert Welch that he held up to the public and the life that he lived publicly; and then there’s the Robert Welch behind closed doors.”

Welch is the former postmaster in Topsham and served in the Army. He had no criminal record.

“He was someone loved and trusted by his family members and he was someone who was liked and trusted by co-workers,” Liberman said.

There was also some evidence of psychological abuse of the victim by Welch, Liberman said. The victim suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder as well as post traumatic stress disorder.

Welch’s lawyer, Gerard Conley, asked for a sentence of only five years in prison.

Darcie Moore can be contacted at:

dmoore@timesrecord.com

Berwick police said someone shot out multiple glass windows around town Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, causing thousands of dollars in damage, and are asking the public to help identify anyone involved, the department said.

Investigators believe the damage was caused by a BB gun or pellet gun.

Police believe the incidents might be related to similar acts of vandalism reported in surrounding towns, according to a police department Facebook post.

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact Berwick police at 698-1136.