AUGUSTA — Two local women face charges of welfare fraud in separate indictments handed up Friday by a grand jury in Kennebec County.
Laurie Chabot, 53, of Augusta, was indicted on one count of theft by deception January 2008-July 2014 and four counts of unsworn falsification within that same time period.
The indictment says she received more than $10,000 in public money over more than six years through the Supplemental Nutrition and MaineCare programs by falsely giving the impression her husband was not living with her and/or not contributing to the household. The theft charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
It also says she signed four applications for public benefits between July 15, 2012, and Jan. 10, 2014, and failed to disclose her husband’s presence and or contribution to the household.
Kelly J. Burgess, 47, of Litchfield also was indicted on one count of theft by deception June 2011-January 2014 and four counts of unsworn falsification within that same time period.
The indictment says Burgess obtained more than $10,000 over the 2 1/2-year period through the state’s Supplemental Nutrition and MaineCare programs by falsely indicating that the father of her child was not living with her and not contributing to the household.
It also says she reinforced that belief in written applications for benefits within that time.
The maximum penalty for the Class B theft charge is 10 years in prison.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it indicates there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.
In a separate indictment, a former Wayne man was indicted again on charges relating to injuries his infant son suffered last October and on a new charge of marijuana cultivation. The charges against William Goodhue Lord, 40, now of Yarmouth, all say the offenses occurred around Oct. 19, 2014, the date police say his son was hurt.
The child, Preston Lord, is named as the victim in the charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence assault on a child less than six years old. The baby’s mother, Ericka Melanson, is named as the victim of a domestic violence terrorizing charge, which says Lord threatened to murder her at their Wayne home.
Melanson told police Lord was highly intoxicated and had been depressed about losing his job when he threw Preston, “who was not secured in a child safety seat, down a set of stairs. Baby Preston got ejected from the seat and landed face first,” according to information in a court affidavit filed by Trooper Dane Wing. At the time, Preston was 3 months old.
Lord had been fired from his job as a registered nurse at Riverview Psychiatric Center following an incident in which he approved use of pepper spray by a state corrections officer on a patient there.
The new charge says Lord had more than 100 marijuana plants in Wayne on Oct. 19, 2014.
Here is a listing of the other people indicted Friday:
• Cary J. Allen, 29, of South China, two counts of unlawful sexual contact with a child under age 12 Nov. 1, 2010-Feb. 28, 2011, in South China.
• Matthew E. Allen, 36, of West Farmington, theft by unauthorized taking Sept. 12, 2014, in Vienna.
• Eric Anderson, 44, of Augusta, two counts each of unlawful trafficking in cocaine and unlawful trafficking in heroin, Feb. 11 and Feb. 20 in Augusta.
• Benjamin T. Brazier, 55, of Gardiner, gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact, and assault Sept. 1-Oct. 11, 2000, in Gardiner, and failure to appear Sept. 14, 2005, in Augusta.
• Rahiem Brent, 30, of Manhattan, N.Y., aggravated trafficking in cocaine, aggravated trafficking in heroin Feb. 20, 2015, and unlawful possession of heroin Feb. 20, 2014, in Augusta.
• Mary C. Brown, 55, of Sidney, operating after revocation Dec. 8, 2014, in Waterville.
• Shaun M. Burchell, 36, of Augusta, aggravated criminal mischief and violation of condition of release Feb. 15 in Augusta.
• Richard J. Courtney, 26, of Fairfield, operating after revocation Dec. 19, 2014, in Augusta.
• Shawn Dallas, 23, of Manhattan, N.Y., aggravated trafficking in cocaine base Dec. 9, 2014, in Augusta.
• April Dupont, 36, of Farmingdale, two counts of unlawful trafficking in heroin Oct. 24, 2013, and Dec. 4, 2013, both in Augusta.
• Elizabeth A. Ferguson, 27, of Rumford, forgery and theft by deception Nov. 7, 2014, in Augusta.
• Thomas G. Flynn, 54, of Augusta, operating after revocation and criminal operating under the influence Feb. 4 in Augusta.
• James Frost, 21, of Belgrade, aggravated criminal operating under the influence and operating after suspension Feb. 26 in Augusta.
• Jeremy R. Giardello, 34, of Warwick, R.I., criminal operation under the influence and operating after suspension Nov. 28, 2014, in Waterville.
• Alan F. Green Jr., 44, of Belfast, aggravated assault, operating after revocation, eluding an officer, criminal operating under the influence, driving to endanger and failure to stop for an officer, all Feb. 7 in Augusta.
• Christopher Harrison, 29, formerly of Augusta and whose address is listed as transient, two counts of unlawful trafficking in heroin, Oct. 15 and 24, 2014, in Augusta.
• Randy Haskell, 54, of Augusta, unlawful possession of heroin, unlawful possession of oxycodone, and unlawful possession of hydrocodone Dec. 22, 2014, and unlawful trafficking in cocaine base Feb. 25, 2015, all in Augusta.
• Griffin Laney, 24, of Augusta, gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact Oct. 31, 2014, in Vassalboro. Griffin was arrested Saturday morning and pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was arraigned Monday in the Kennebec County case via video from the jail. A judge set bail at $5,000.
• Patrick Lappin, 24, of Augusta, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and assault Feb. 1 in Augusta.
• Aric Libby, 23, of Madison, domestic violence assault Dec. 26, 2014, in Benton.
• Alison Lord, 25, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking, misuse of identification and theft of lost, mislaid or mistakenly delivered property Nov. 30-Dec. 5, 2013, in Augusta.
• Christopher C. McPherson, 28 of Augusta, criminal operating under the influence and operating beyond license condition or restriction Nov. 26, 2014, in Augusta.
• David W. Morissette, 45, of Winslow, four counts of unlawful sexual contact Oct. 21, 2001- Oct. 21, 2005, in Winslow.
• Christopher L. Murphy, 36, of Augusta, receiving stolen property April 12, 2014, in Randolph.
• Gerald Perley, 42, of Waterville, assault and domestic violence assault Jan. 30 and violation of condition of release March 20, all in Waterville.
• Nancy Rodriques, 18, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in heroin and unlawful trafficking in cocaine Feb. 20 in Augusta.
• Jerry Edward Schulte, 54, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking and forgery Feb. 28-March 13, 2014, in Augusta.
• Jarrod Z. Standring, operating after revocation, failure to give correct name, and violation of condition of release Feb. 27 in Winslow.
• Kathy Tupper, 50, of Augusta, two counts each of aggravated trafficking in heroin and aggravated trafficking in cocaine Feb. 6 and Feb. 11 in Augusta.
• Sokrouhn Ung, 35, of Portland, two counts of aggravated trafficking in cocaine base Feb. 25 and March 18 in Augusta.
• Heather Wilkinson, 49, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in cocaine base and violation of conditions of release Feb. 25 in Augusta.
• Melissa J. Winchenbach, 33, of Sidney, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking and one count of burglary of a motor vehicle Aug. 27, 2014, in Waterville.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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