FARMINGTON – Residents of Winthrop and Lewiston were indicted by the Franklin County grand jury on felony drug charges last week, relating to a Farmington Police Department investigation that began in March with the overdose death of a local woman.
In a separate case, a Jay woman was indicted following an investigation into another unrelated overdose death of a man in Strong, also in March.
Alexander Meader, 27 of Withrop, was indicted on two counts of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, both Class B felonies; two counts of unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs and one count of conspiracy to commit, all Class C felonies; as well as violation of condition of release, a misdemeanor, and a criminal forfeiture to seize cash that the state says related to the alleged drug trafficking.
Also indicted in relation to the FPD investigation was Stephen Greenleaf, 66 of Lewison, on one count of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, a Class C felony.
In a separate case, Brittany Boivin, 32 of Jay, was indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy. a Class C felony.
According to an arrest affidavit filed by Farmington Police Department Sgt. Edward Hastings IV, he and other first responders arrived at a Fairbanks Road apartment on the morning of Saturday, March 2 after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman. The woman was discovered on the second floor of her apartment and could not be revived by Hastings, NorthStar EMS and Farmington Fire Rescue personnel.
The medical examiner later concluded that she died of acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, venlafaxine and trazadone. The latter two drugs were the woman’s prescription medications.
Greenleaf reportedly told investigators that he and the woman had traveled to Winthrop to purchase crack from Meader. Meader then traveled with them back to Farmington, eventually leaving the residence around 8 p.m. Greenleaf told police that he then returned to the Fairbanks Road address and stayed with the woman, smoking crack and marijuana until approximately 4 a.m. the next morning.
Police believe that Meader sold heroin and crack cocaine out of the Fairbanks Road apartment in the past.
According to the affidavit, Greenleaf retrieved crack pipes, push rods for the pipes and a small plastic container from his truck and gave it to police. In the container was crack cocaine and eight packets of heroin. From within the apartment, police reportedly found empty packets that appeared to have contained heroin, used crack pipes, a baggie of what appeared to be crack cocaine and used needles. They also took cellphones, reportedly finding a text message on the deceased woman’s phone dated Feb. 28 that had been sent to Meader inquiring about purchasing a “ticket for the come down,” a phrase that Hastings associated with a .1 gram packet of heroin.
Police traveled to Winthrop and located Meader in the passenger seat of a vehicle as it backed out of his driveway. According to the affidavit, Meader was “very fidgety and furtive” and attempted to pull baggies of heroin and what appeared to be a crack pipe out of his pocket. Police searched Meader and allegedly found several empty baggies of heroin as well as $759 in cash. They reportedly found another baggie, more drug paraphernalia and three bundles of 10 packs of heroin – weighing approximately 3.6 grams – in the vehicle. The heroin packets recovered from the Fairbanks Road apartment matched those that Meader was trying to sell, Hastings said.
According to the affidavit, Meader admitted to bringing and using heroin to the Fairbanks Road apartment, but denied supplying to drug to the woman, as she was a former addict.
Boivin’s indictment relates to another, unrelated overdose death in March, this one in Strong. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and NorthStar EMS responded to a report of a man in medical distress on the Lambert Hill Road on March 30; that man ultimately died, with the medical examiner eventually determining that acute fentanyl toxicity was the cause of his death.
A FCSO investigation conducted by Detective Stephen Charles alleged that the man had been corresponding with another individual via text message about acquiring drugs. According to police, that number was connected to Boivin.
After acquiring cell phone records, Charles reportedly found messages that referenced apparent drug trafficking activity, including the delivery of “opiate narcotics consistent with fentanyl for $50” to the deceased man in Strong. He conducted a number of interviews with people associated with the case, including Boivin, prior to arresting her in September.
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.
Others indicted by the Franklin County grand jury, and not previously reported, include:
Brandon Belisle, 22 of Dallas Plantation, on counts of domestic violence assault, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and domestic violence terrorizing, all Class C felonies, as well as misdemeanor refusing to submit to arrest.
Cory Bellefeuille, 38 of New Sharon, on counts of domestic violence assault and domestic violence terrorizing, both Class C felonies, as well as misdemeanor criminal restraint.
Steven Blair, 55 of Jay, on two counts of domestic violence assault and one count of domestic violence terrorizing, all Class C felonies.
Audrey Condon, 32 of Jay, on one count of criminal operating under the influence, a Class C felony, as well as misdemeanor operating beyond license condition or restriction.
Philip LeDoux, 37 of Rangeley, on two counts of domestic violence assault and one count of domestic violence terrorizing, all Class C felonies.
Yue Liang, 27 of Farmington, on one count of possession of sexually explicit materials, a Class C felony.
Aaron Nasiatka, 35 of Farmington, on one count of domestic violence assault, a Class C felony.
Walter Nichols, 62 of Wilton, on one count of aggravated assault, a Class B felony, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a Class C felony, as well as three misdemeanors: two counts of domestic violence assault and one count of assault.
Clyde Pingree, 54 of Wilton, on one count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, a Class A felony.
Joshua Rinaldi, 38 of Livermore Falls, on one count of criminal operating under the influence and one count of aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, both Class C felonies.
Monica Rollins, 38 of Wilton, on one count of theft by unauthorized taking, a Class C felony, as well as misdemeanor violation of conditions of release.
Jordan Sirois, 25 of Madison, on one count of aggravated forgery, a Class B felony, as well as two misdemeanors: criminal operation under the influence and operating after suspension.
Eric Tidswell, 43 of Peru, on one count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, a Class A felony, as well as a criminal forfeiture.
Nathan Wing, 42 of Farmington, on one count of unlawful sexual contact, a Class C felony, as well as misdemeanor unlawful sexual touching.
Donald Wright, 43 of Chesterville, on one count of unlawful sexual contact, a Class C felony, and one count of unlawful sexual contact, a Class B felony, as well as misdemeanor falsifying physical evidence.
What’s up, @ Eagle Roar? Not related to any of this bunch?
It’s not about being related it’s about being a decent human being… minding your own… respecting others right to privacy… realizing none of us have a right to judge others! Not to mention why do so many people care so much about others lives and business… nothing interesting enough going on for yourselves? These charges do not define who any of these people are… it’s not a conviction, so why do make their business public, and even if there is a conviction… it takes a very close minded person to believe everything they read and to judge based on that!
Wrong on every count, Townie.
Hey Townie: you might feel differently if it was one of your loved ones they sold drugs to!!
I am not at all saying that I agree with the behavior or the impact the behavior has on others… I’ve dealt with addicts my entire life… it’s the worst thing to watch someone struggle with! That and mental health. Of course I feel people should be held accountable for their actions… my point is why does it all have to be handled so publicly? Especially before anyone even knows if the charges are accurate… there’s so many ways to judge all of these situations… even the person choosing to take the drugs and reaching out to purchase them… my point was that we (as outsiders) have no right to judge! Especially not knowing all the facts or circumstances behind each situation… so why not wait to put these peoples lives in the spot light until there is a conviction? Not to mention that having to see these articles and pictures posted over and over does impact the victims and their families as well… just another point of view… Bc I have been on both sides!
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
That being said, I have been on both sides as well. If you have a mugshot, ever, expect it to be “public”. It is the price of being arrested, whether found “guilty” or not. It’s real life and real life has VERY real consequences. Period.
“…why does it all have to be handled so publicly?”
Handling things privately has often historically led to something the Founding Fathers liked to call “tyranny”, so they made our justice system public. People whose pictures appear in the legitimate press under the words “arrested, charged, indicted, etc.” have already been through a process to determine if probable cause, a standard set by the Constitution, exists.
Cornell Law School defines probable cause as: “… a requirement found in the Fourth Amendment that must usually be met before police make an arrest, conduct a search, or receive a warrant. Courts usually find probable cause when there is a reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed.” -https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/probable_cause
It is “reasonable” therefore to make some assumptions about the subjects of these all too common news stories. Perhaps the stories indeed do cause their own additional troubles for those involved. I would be more troubled, however, if I never heard evil of my neighbor until he burned down my house.
In addition it has always struck me that people who ask this question often seem to have something to hide, as witness the current state of affairs in the District of Columbia. I fear that without the press there would be alot more houses burning.
Townie, It’s funny how we more often than not do the very things we accuse others of doing, judging based on a written piece. And it is a matter of public knowledge due to the Freedom of Information Act, the 6th Amendment, the 1st amendment, plus it is state law under the victims notification law, if a person or persons pose a threat to the public, or the public is or could be potential victims, therefore the public has a right to know the criminal proceedings of people who may pose a threat to them, this holds true of people charged, indicted, convicted or sentenced for class A, B, or C crimes. A prime example of this is the Sex Offenders Registry or any “Most Wanted” list.