Judy Harrison
Courts Reporter
- 207.990.8207
- jharrison@bangordailynews.com
UMaine law school grads to help fill the state’s growing need for lawyers
PORTLAND, Maine — Taylor Kilgore decided she could better advocate for the clients she worked with as an adult mental health case manager if she had a law degree. Allison Ouellet had never stepped foot in a courtroom until she went to law school while her classmate, Jessica Currier, grew ...
N.H. man gets more than 15 years for two York County bank robberies
PORTLAND, Maine — A New Hampshire man was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to 15 years and eight months in federal prison on charges related to two bank robberies in York County in November 2011. Bernie Subocz, 45, of Manchester, N.H., was also sentenced to three years of supervised ...
African Children’s Choir to perform at Maine churches
The African Children’s Choir will perform Sunday and Wednesday at three churches in Maine in Bangor, Ellsworth and Cape Neddick. The choir was founded in 1984 by Ray Barnett of White Rock, British Columbia. “Inspired by the singing of one small boy, we formed the first African Children’s Choir to ...
Portland man sentenced to 25 years for sexual exploitation of a child
PORTLAND, Maine — A local man was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District court to 25 years in federal prison on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. David Muise, 26, of Portland was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release. Muise waived indictment in January and admitted to ...
Murder trial of Bangor woman accused of slaying husband in bathtub to go forward
BANGOR, Maine — The murder trial of a local woman will go forward next month after the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday refused to hear an appeal over the competency of Roxanne Jeskey before there is a verdict in the case. Jeskey, 49, of Bangor is accused of brutally ...
Groups lose more than money when member steals; credibility in community tough to reclaim
BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor-Breakfast Kiwanis Club and the organization that sponsors the city’s July 4 fireworks display lost a lot more than money when one of their members stole more than $140,000 over a 10-year period. “We’ve lost credibility in the community,” Anthony Bernatche, who spoke on behalf of ...
Surry man charged with kidnapping Gorham teen who was trying to sell BMW
PORTLAND, Maine — A Surry man who was arrested in North Carolina after a high-speed police chase was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Maine with kidnapping a man at gunpoint last month in Cumberland County and driving the victim to Delaware in the trunk of his own car. ...
Judge won’t change probation conditions for Maine woman who killed foster child
AUGUSTA, Maine — A Superior Court judge on Tuesday denied a motion to modify probation conditions for the woman who is still serving a 17-year sentence for manslaughter in the the asphyxiation death of her 5-year-old foster child in 2001. Sally Ann Schofield , now 51, of Chelsea was convicted ...
Washington County pot farm worker testifies; IDs defendants in case
BANGOR, Maine — A Mexican man facing deportation testified Tuesday in U.S. District Court about how the state’s largest marijuana plantation was run and identified defendants by their first name who have been charged with operating the sophisticated Washington County pot farm in Township 37. Martin Roblero, 22, was granted ...
VIDEO
Defense attorney: Evidence about alternative suspect should get new trial for man convicted of strangling ex-fiancee
PORTLAND, Maine — The man serving two consecutive life sentences for killing his former girlfriend and the toddler she was baby-sitting more than a decade ago in Dexter on Wednesday asked the state’s high court to allow DNA tests to be conducted on evidence he claims would show someone else ...
ANALYSIS
Outside of schools, separation of church and state in Maine gets blurrier
An elementary school’s decision to end its traditional “blessing” of small student-made wooden rowboats by a local Congregational minister has put prayer in Maine’s public square in the spotlight. South Bristol Elementary School ended the 16-year tradition this year after receiving a letter from Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation ...
Cheverus grad sentenced to 6 years in prison, fined $5 million for insider trading
NEW YORK — A Portland native and former trustee of Cheverus High School was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to six years in prison for being part of an insider trading scheme that illegally earned investors $70 million. Anthony Chiasson, 39, of New York City also was ordered to ...
Substitute teacher pleads guilty to inappropriate behavior with students
BANGOR, Maine — A former substitute teacher pleaded guilty Monday at the Penobscot Judicial Center to misdemeanor charges in connection with inappropriate behavior with four students at schools in Bangor and Old Town. Gene Staffiere, 68, of Bangor pleaded guilty to four counts of Class D assault and one count ...
High court to consider Jeffrey Cookson’s request for DNA testing a second time
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court this week will consider the appeals of three convicted murderers, including the man serving two consecutive life sentences for killing his former girlfriend and the toddler she was babysitting more than a decade ago in Dexter. Jeffrey Cookson, now 49, is asking ...
NYC man part of family crack cocaine business sentenced to 7 years in prison
BANGOR, Maine — Alfarabick Mally, also known as Jacob “Pinky” Garcia of New York City, went into the family business when he began running cocaine from the Big Apple to Bangor, a federal judge said Monday morning in sentencing him to seven years in prison, half of what was recommended ...
Two Catholic priests in St. John Valley retire; 8 other priests reassigned
PORTLAND, Maine — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland on Sunday announced retirements of two priests and the reassignment of eight others. The Revs. David Cote and Philip Cyr retired May 1, according to a press release issued by the diocese. Both men will turn 70 soon. Cote most recently ...
VIDEO
Desire to contribute to community led pharmacy school grads to join ‘pioneer class’ at Husson
BANGOR, Maine — Kari London and Raphael Dikas were looking for careers that allowed them to contribute to their communities every day. Their graduations Saturday from Husson University’s School of Pharmacy will allow them to do just that, both said recently. London, 31, of Bangor, and Dikas, 28, of Fort ...
Houlton man gets 10 years for sharing child porn
BANGOR, Maine — A Houlton man was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 10 years in prison for sharing child pornography with two law enforcement officers working undercover separately outside Maine. David A. Russell, 58, waived indictment and pleaded guilty in September to one count of transportation of child ...
Grace seminary graduate to focus on Christian spiritual formation
BANGOR, Maine — Beth Rogers began looking for a deeper spiritual encounter with God while still in junior high school. Rogers, 54, of Bangor marked a milestone Wednesday in her own journey with Christ when she received a Master of Arts degree in theology from Grace Evangelical College & Seminary. ...
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Hampden Academy, John Bapst students win Penobscot County Bar Association contest
BANGOR, Maine — A junior at Hampden Academy and a freshman at John Bapst Memorial High School were the first-place winners in the Penobscot County Bar Association’s annual Law Day essay and poster contest. Law Day was celebrated May 1. The $500 scholarship prizes were presented Wednesday to Laura Fairman ...
Police seeking tips about pickup truck possibly connected to Glenburn teen’s disappearance
Since 1971, seven Maine children reported missing have not been found
Authorities ask for volunteers in search for missing Glenburn teen Nichole Cable
A letter to Michelle Obama in light of military sex assault epidemic
Scandals, real and imagined
IRS targeting
Manchester 15-year-old off to impressive start for Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports
Houlton council, community still concerned about costly Millar Civic Center
Bangor’s Marcus Davis hopes to counter opponent’s height, reach advantage in Lewiston MMA main event
For those who are too fat for Abercrombie and Fitch
Kitchen Nightmares meltdown or: How to lose an argument online
Market Basket in Biddeford starts hiring 300 workers
Arguments over gun control and abortion will never be settled
A spot of tea, a spread of treats, at Camden’s Fromviandoux