FARMINGTON – Forty people have been indicted by the Franklin County Grand Jury after the panel rose today, with alleged domestic violence and sexual abuse making up a large percentage of felonies charges.
A grand jury indictment indicates that the panel 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 or convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, unlike a regular trial jury.
Among those indicted was Joseph Begin, 37 of Jay, who was indicted on four counts of gross sexual assault, all Class A felonies. Begin had been arrested by Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Maine State Police investigators on Jan. 27, after an investigation into attacks that were alleged to have occurred in New Sharon in March 2014.
According to FCSO, one of these attacks reportedly required the alleged victim to seek medical treatment. The victim had not reported the incidents because she feared for her life, according to police, until she came forward and made a disclosure to a county and state police investigator earlier this year.
Also indicted was a Stetson man who police say sexually assaulted someone 5 years ago in Farmington. Shawn Flagg, 39, has been indicted on two counts of gross sexual assault, one Class A and one Class B felony, in relation to a FCSO investigation.
According to police, investigators interviewed Flagg at the Penobscot County Jail in January, where the Stetson man was facing an unrelated charge, after receiving a referral from another law enforcement agency. Following the interview, Flagg was charged by police and eventually indicted by the grand jury Thursday.
In a separate case, Flagg was also indicted on one count of tampering with a victim, a Class B felony. The tampering allegedly occurred in February, after Flagg had been arrested on a GSA charge by FCSO investigators.
Also indicted on sex-related felonies were three individuals that were arrested following the search of a Cemetery Road residence in East Wilton on Feb. 13. Anna Larochelle, 24; Jamie Ouellette, 37; and Tami Ouellette, 42, all of Wilton, have been indicted on one count each of unlawful sexual contact with a child under the age of 12, Class A felonies in Larochelle and Jamie Ouellette’s cases and a Class B felony in Tami Ouellette’s case, and visual sex aggression against a child under the age of 12, a Class C felony.
Jamie Ouellette was also indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a Class C felony.
FCSO, Maine State Police and Wilton Police Department investigators executed a search warrant at the Cemetery Road address in February after receiving a referral from an adult. Department of Health and Human Services personnel also assisted on the scene.
Also indicted was Frank Makuch, 23 of Farmington, on one count of gross sexual assault, a Class A felony. That charge relates to an incident which allegedly occurred at a local residence in the early morning hours of April 14. After interviewing both Makuch and the alleged victim, a Farmington Police Department investigator arrested Makuch.
A number of felony assault charges relating to alleged domestic violence were included within the indictments handed down by the grand jury. Among these was Robert Carver, 73 of Carthage, who was indicted on one count of aggravated assault, a Class B felony, one count of domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony, domestic violence terrorizing with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony, and misdemeanor domestic violence assault.
According to FCSO, a woman arrived at the Rumford Police Department on April 17 and told police that she had been assaulted by Carver earlier that day, with the Carthage man constricting her airway. She also told police that Carver was intoxicated and had access to a loaded shotgun and a handgun.
MSP and FCSO personnel surrounded Carver’s residence and the Carthage man surrendered without incident and taken to Franklin County Detention Center.
Timothy Lee Hutchinson, 29 of New Sharon, was indicted on two felonies and four misdemeanors by the grand jury, stemming from an alleged domestic dispute which reportedly occurred on March 15 in New Sharon. Hutchinson has been indicted on one count of aggravated assault, a Class B felony, one count of domestic violence terrorizing with a dangerous weapon, a Class C felony, as well as one count of domestic violence criminal restraint, one count of domestic violence assault, one count of criminal mischief and one count of terrorizing; all misdemeanors.
The charges stem from a March 15 incident in which FCSO personnel responded to the Smith Road in New Sharon regarding a report of a domestic dispute. No charges were filed initially, however, the next day the victim came forward with additional information that resulted in Hutchinson being arrested.
Police are continuing to search for Jonathan Nurse, 41 of Farmington, approximately two weeks after he allegedly assaulted someone and destroyed a flat-screen television.
According to the Farmington Police Department, law enforcement responded to a Holley Road address in the early morning hours of Friday, May 8, after receiving a complaint of a “disorderly subject” who was destroying property in the residence. After investigating, police believe that Nurse assaulted a woman in the residence, destroyed a television and used a butterfly knife to further damage property while “demanding [the alleged victim] not call police.”
The alleged victim, a family member and a young child fled the residence and contacted police. Officers from Farmington Police Department and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office arrived and searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate Nurse.
An arrest warrant for Nurse has been issued. The grand jury today indicted Nurse on one count of domestic violence assault, elevated to a Class C felony due to prior convictions for same, one count of domestic violence terrorizing, elevated to a Class C felony due to prior convictions for same, and one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Anyone with information about Nurse’s whereabouts is being asked to contact the Farmington Police Department at 778-6311.
As usual, all will plea bargain and get a slap on the wrist!
You are absolutely right that’s how the justice system works.
Sometimes a plea bargain means that an innocent person was charged to avoid paying out more $ for lawyers fees and receive a lighter sentence then going through the whole procedure/ jury process. It makes it a really unfair system.
I have to agree with Maineiac ( Original One) and Rob on the fact that each person above will take a plea bargain. You just got to love how the justice system work.