FARMINGTON – The Franklin County grand jury indicted 47 people in a session held Monday and Tuesday. An indictment means that after considering the evidence a district attorney has presented, a grand jury believes there is probable cause, or a “reasonable belief” that the crime occurred. A grand jury of up to 23 people need not be unanimous and does not need to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt like a regular trial jury.
Manslaughter charges, relating to a pair of fatal vehicular incidents, were levied against two individuals.
Barbara Benoit, 50, of Jay, was indicted on charges of manslaughter, a Class A felony, and aggravated operation while under the influence, a Class B felony, stemming from the death of her husband. A Farmington-area chef and restaurant-owner, Peter Benoit, 56, of Jay, was believed by police to have died soon after the vehicle in which he was a passenger collided with a guardrail on the evening of July 12.
Authorities believe that Barbara Benoit was operating her 2008 Subaru Outback on Route 133, near the Beedy Road intersection, when the vehicle failed to navigate a turn. The car rolled onto its roof and struck a guardrail, before coming back down with all four wheels touching the ground.
Police suspect that Peter Benoit was killed when the passenger-side roof of the Subaru struck the Davis Road guardrail. Despite the damage to the Subaru, which police described as a “total loss,”
authorities said that Barbara Benoit drove the vehicle to the couple’s residence on Davis Road, roughly half a mile away from the scene of the collision. From there, fire, ambulance and police services were summoned, with NorthStar personnel declaring Peter Benoit dead at the scene.
Also indicted by the grand jury was Richard Greco, 59, of Dixfield. He is charged with manslaughter, a Class A felony, and two counts of operation while under the influence. Those OUI charges are Class C felonies because authorities claim they resulted in serious bodily injury or death.
Greco’s charges stem from an incident in March 27, which claimed the life of a Jay woman and sent a family of four to the hospital. At 3:30 p.m., near the intersection of Route 2 and Route 156, a 1998 Dodge truck and a Chevy SUV were involved in an apparent head-on collision.
In the SUV was Avis Pettingill, 73, of Jay, and her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Pettingill, sitting in the front-passenger seat, was believed to have been located near the point of impact between the two vehicles and was pronounced dead at the scene. Northstar and Lifeflight helicopters transported the other four occupants to Franklin Memorial Hospital and Central Maine Medical Center.
Police say that the Dodge truck was operated by Greco, who suffered head trauma and was taken to Franklin Memorial. Police reported that Greco was released a few hours later.
The grand jury also handed down a six-count indictment against Carol Murphy, 65, of New Sharon, following an Oct. 14 incident at her home. Police claim that when a Maine State Trooper arrived at Murphy’s home with an arrest warrant related to unpaid fines, Murphy assaulted him with a stun gun. Trooper Aaron Turcotte was responding to the home with the warrant in part because of a complaint that Murphy was in possession of pets, which would be in violation of a court order following a cruelty to animals conviction in 2004.
Murphy has been charged with assault of an officer, a Class C felony, refusing to submit to arrest, criminal use of an electronic weapon and three counts of cruelty to animals, all Class D misdemeanors. Murphy is also in the middle of a custody hearing for legal possession of her animals and faces a contempt of court complaint due to the state’s claim that she possessed animals.
Also indicted are the following people:
Ashlea Allen, 21, of Naples, indicted on charges of possession of Schedule W drugs, aggravated criminal mischief, both Class C offenses and unauthorized use of property, a Class D offense on July 29, 2009.
Roger Ames, 44,of Weld, indicted on operating after revocation with three prior convictions, a Class C crime on Sept. 19, 2009.
Dennis Ayala, 46, of Wilton, indicted on receiving stolen property, a Class C crime and possession of Schedule Z drug on April 3, 2009.
Brandon Belanger, 38, of North New Portland, indicted on a Class C forgery charge Jan. 15, 2009 through March 23, 2009.
David Belanger, 53, of Jay, indicted on criminal threatening with a weapon, a Class C crime; obstructing the report of a crime, domestic violence assault, and criminal mischief, all Class D offenses on Nov. 10, 2009.
Robert Bernier, 41, of Strong, indicted on two counts of violating condition of release, one a Class C offense and the other a Class D on Nov. 4, 2009.
Ritter Bopp, 22, of Strong, indicted on possession of Schedule Z drugs, a Class C offense on Oct. 13,2009.
Craig Bunnell, 39, of Phillips, indicted on a Class C assault, possession of hydrocodone, a Class C offense; refusing to submit to arrest, a Class D crime; telephone harassment, a Class E crime; violation of condition of release, a Class E crime on Nov. 12, 2009.
Donald Burhoe, 45, of Jay, indicted on eluding an officer and passing a roadblock, both Class C offenses; criminal speed, a Class E crime in Wilton on June 6, 2009.
Eric Conklin, 30, of Brunswick, indicted on a three prior operating under the influence on July 25, 2009.
Jacob Couture, 18, Jay, indicted on Class B burglary, and two counts of Class C theft June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009.
Patrick Daggett, 29, of New Sharon, indicted on charges of Class C offense trafficking Schedule Z drugs and marijuana cultivation, a Class D crime in Farmington on Oct. 2, 2009.
Randall Decker, 59, of Farmington, indicted on three counts of Class C offense possession of Schedule W drugs and cultivating marijuana a Class D crime on July 2, 2009.
Brandon Demillo, 22, of Jay, indicted on Class C offense possession of Schedule W drugs, Class E possession of Schedule Z drug and violating conditions of release, a Class E offense on Sept.22, 2009.
Billie-Jo Elliott, 36, of Farmington, indicted on Class B trafficking Schedule W drugs on Aug. 12, 2009.
Christopher Elliott, 32, of Farmington, indicted on Class B trafficking Schedule W drugs and violating conditions of release on Aug. 12, 2009.
Eliza Fagan, 20, of New Sharon, indicted on Class B trafficking Schedule Z drugs and marijuana cultivation, a Class D crime on Oct. 2, 2009.
Reginald Farrington, 42, of Jay, indicted on aggravated operating a vehicle after revocation a Class C crime and operating under the influence with one prior, a Class D offense on Sept, 10, 2009.
Thomas Farrington, 27, of Wilton, indicted on Class C offense assault on July 1, 2009.
Joel Flanagin, 27, of Anson, indicted on Class C possession of heroin and operating a vehicle without a license, Class E crime onOct. 21, 2009.
Jonathan Galouch, 25, of Farmington, indicted on Class A offense aggravated trafficking Schedule drugs, marijuana cultivation, Class D; obstruction of government administration, a Class D offense; criminal forfeiture on March 27, 2009.
Shawne Gardner, 35, of Farmington, indicted on possession of schedule drugs, a Class C offense on Sept. 23, 2009.
Lauren Goldreich, 25, of Stratton, indicted on possession of Schedule W drug, Calss C; illegal importation of schedule drugs, Calss C offense on April 29, 2009.
Nicholas Hodgkin, 19, of New Gloucester, indicted on Class B burglary and Class C theft on Sept. 3, 2009.
John Jackson, 28, of Strong, indicted on Class C assault and Class D criminal mischief on Oct. 5, 2009.
Steve Lee, Jr., 23, of Wilton, indicted on Class C burglary, Class E theft and Class E receiving stolen property on July 9, 2009.
Dustin Matthews, 18, of Gardiner, indicted on Class C burglary, Class D criminal mischief and Class E theft on Aug. 23, 2009.
Belinda Murphy, 28, of Farmington, indicted on Class C assault and Class D criminal mischief on Sept. 19, 2009.
Kirt Newton, 39, of Anson, indicted on Class B trafficking Schedule W drug on Nov. 6, 2009.
Chad Oliver, 25, of Wilton, indicted on Class B aggravated assault on Aug. 3, 2009.
George Poland, Jr., 39 of Rangeley Plantation, on Class C firearm possession on Oct. 13, 2009.
Jenna Porter, 24, of Oakland, indicted on Class C theft on July 4, 2009.
Tracy Ricker, 42, of Cumberland, indicted on Class B forgery July 11, 2006-Jan. 26, 2009.
Chad Simoneau, 19, of Farmington, indicted on Class C burglary, Class E theft and Class E receiving stolen property on July 9, 2009.
Benjamin Soha, 24, of Jay, indicted on Class C escape from custody, Class E violation of conditions of release and Class C failure to appear on Oct. 30, 2009 and Nov. 20, 2009.
Dawn Steuber, 38, of Anson, indicted on Class C possession of oxycodone and Class D possession of Schedule W drug on Nov. 6, 2009.
Kenneth Tourtelotte, 34, of Jay, indicted on Class C assault on July 1, 2009.
Ernest Tripp, 42, of Farmington, indicted on Class C receiving stolen property and Class E violating condition of release on Oct. 5, 2009.
Eric Urdsick, 29, of Wilton, indicted on Class C trafficking of Schedule Z drug, Class D marijuana cultivation and violating condition of release on Oct. 28, 2009.
Bryan Walker, 46, of jay, indicted on two counts Class B aggravated trafficking of Scedule W drugs and Class C Schedule W drugs.
Martin Wilson of Rangeley, indicted on Class C operating a vehicle after revocation on Aug. 13, 2009.
