A Clinton man has been indicted on manslaughter and driving to endanger charges stemming from a crash last year in Benton that killed his passenger.
Stephen B. Richardson III, 19, was behind the wheel when he lost control of the car on Neck Road in Benton and hit a utility pole on the vehicle’s passenger side, according to the Maine State Police.
Julie Clark, 19, of Troy died after suffering injuries in the single-car crash Oct. 31, 2021.
Police said Richardson was driving a 1998 Toyota Corolla and drifted into the oncoming lane, overcorrected and lost control of the car before hitting the utility pole.
A Kennebec County grand jury recently indicted Richardson on a Class A charge of manslaughter, alleging he “did recklessly, or with criminal negligence, cause the death of another human being, Julie C. Clark.”
Class A manslaughter is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Maeghan Maloney, district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties, said there was evidence of both alcohol and THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, in Richardson’s system after the crash.
Speeding was also a factor, both in the accident and in Richardson’s being charged with manslaughter, Maloney said.
Maloney said a charge of manslaughter is made when there is a “gross deviation” from the standard of conduct in which a reasonable, prudent person would engage.
“In this case, there are several factors that combine to rise to that gross deviation,” she said, explaining why Richardson received the charge.
Richardson was not charged or indicted with operating under the influence, but was indicted on a charge of driving to endanger, a Class C offense.
Clark and Richardson were taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Center for Health in Waterville. Clark was flown by a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter from MaineGeneral to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she died.
Richardson suffered minor injuries, according to Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt but indicates enough evidence exists to proceed with formal charges and a trial.
Also indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury, which met March 24 and 25 in Augusta:
• James S. Alexander, 74, of Pittston, gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact, between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2003, in Gardiner.
• Steven R. Belleau, 32, of Presque Isle, violation of condition of release, Feb. 9, in Waterville.
• Stacy Bowman, 36, of Skowhegan, aggravated trafficking in scheduled W drugs (fentanyl powder), illegal important of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful trafficking in scheduled W drugs (cocaine), illegal importation of scheduled drugs (cocaine) and criminal forfeiture of a 2009 Ford Escape, Jan. 5, in Augusta.
• Travis R. Burley, 31, of Lewiston, theft by unauthorized taking, failure to give correct name and violation of condition of release, Feb. 3, in Augusta.
• Shain Andrews Cloutier, 36, of Augusta, criminal operating under the influence, operating after suspension, driving to endanger and operating an unregistered vehicle, July 31, 2021, in Sidney.
• Christopher Colson Jr., 20, of Augusta, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 17, 2021, in Augusta.
• Peter V. Corson, 56, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release, Dec. 11, 2021, in Waterville; and burglary, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, and violation of condition of release, Feb. 7, in Waterville.
• Stephanie A. Coutu, 41, of Augusta, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (Aripiprazole), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and violation of condition of release, Oct. 14, 2021, in Vassalboro.
• Daniel G. Drapeau, 32, of Augusta, domestic violence assault, Dec. 22, 2021, in Augusta.
• Ashley M. Dubay, 36, of Winslow, theft by deception, between April 8, 2021, and July 13, 2021, in Waterville.
• Jessica A. Dudley, 29, of Wilton, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine), and violation of condition of release, Dec. 2, 2021, in Waterville.
• Aaron C. Engroff, 32, of Holden, two counts of unlawful sexual contact, between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020, in West Gardiner, one count of unlawful sexual touching, between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 30, 2020, in West Gardiner; unlawful sexual touching, between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 30, 2020, in West Gardiner; unlawful sexual contact, between Dec. 1, 2020, and Dec. 30, 2020, in Augusta; and unlawful sexual touching, between Dec. 1, 2020, and Dec. 30, 2020, in Augusta.
• Thomas James Ezell, 29, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 2, 2020, in Winslow.
• Andrew L. Flagg, 41, of Augusta, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 17, 2021, in Augusta.
• Robert J. Fortier II., 32, of Winslow, theft by unauthorized taking, aggravated criminal mischief, on or between Oct. 3 and Oct. 10. 2022, and receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), Oct. 10, 2021, in Winslow.
• Margaret Ferguson, 58, of Waterville, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and domestic violence criminal threatening, Dec. 23, 2021, in Oakland.
• Natasha M. Geffrard, 27, of Augusta, criminal operating under the influence and assault on an officer, Jan. 20, in Augusta.
• Michael J. Gorgone, 69, of Windsor, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), Feb. 14, in Winslow.
• Michael Darrin Greenlaw, 23, of Fairfield, violation of condition of release, Dec. 13, 2021, in Waterville, and violation of condition of release, Dec. 1, 2021, in Augusta.
• Samuel R. Hoad, 42, of Troy, operating after revocation, Nov. 4, 2021, in Waterville.
• Justin Brandon Howard, 36, of Waterville, domestic violence assault and criminal mischief, Dec. 23, 2021, in Augusta.
• Allen Michael Jenness-Libby, 32, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), violation of condition of release and criminal forfeiture of $648, Dec. 1, 2021, in Waterville.
• Jeremiah J. Johnson, 45, of Millinocket, five counts of failure to pay tax, one each year in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and four counts of failure to make and file tax returns, one each year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, all in Augusta.
• Thomas W. Jones, 54, of Burnham, criminal operating under the influence, Dec. 1, 2021, in Clinton.
• Derek A. Knowles, 42, of Skowhegan, theft by unauthorized taking, aggravated criminal mischief, on or between Oct. 3 and Oct. 10. 2022, and receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), Oct. 10, 2021, in Winslow.
• Adam Koopman, 38, of Augusta, tampering with a victim, violation of condition of release and violation of a protective order, Nov. 15, 2021, in Augusta.
• Jessica L. Lemieux, 40, of Oakland, theft by unauthorized taking, aggravated criminal mischief, on or between Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, 2021; receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder and/or cocaine), Oct. 10, in Winslow.
• Raul Leos, 32, of Waterville, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence criminal threatening, and domestic violence assault, Nov. 18, 2021, in Clinton.
• Ryan T. Loucks, 34, of Waterville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder) and criminal trespass, Oct. 14, 2021, in Waterville.
• Samantha L. Martin, 27, of Fairfield, theft by unauthorized taking, Oct. 13, 2021, in Winslow.
• David R. McCadney, 39, of Oakland, aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (fentanyl), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine) and criminal forfeiture of $3,374, Jan. 31, in Winslow.
• Samuel E. Michaud, 22, of Vassalboro, domestic violence assault, Feb. 19, in Vassalboro.
• Chad McDougal, 30, of Waterville, domestic violence assault and assault on a child younger than 6, Aug. 21, 2021, in Gardiner.
• Christopher Park, 44, of Skowhegan, aggravated trafficking in scheduled W drugs (fentanyl powder), illegal important of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful trafficking in scheduled W drugs (cocaine) and illegal importation of scheduled drugs (cocaine), Jan. 5, in Augusta.
• Joey Philbrook, 35, of Unity, operating after revocation and violation of condition of release, Sept. 30, 2021, in Waterville.
• Charles Alan Quimby, 41, of Oakland, operating after revocation, failure to give correct name, and violation of condition of release, Oct. 11, 2021, in Waterville; operating after revocation, violation of condition of release and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (methadone hydrochloride), Oct. 16, 2021, in Waterville; and operating after revocation, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), and violation of condition of release, Dec. 16, 2021, in Waterville.
• John A. Racine Jr., 32, of Somerville, stealing drugs, operating after suspension, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (suboxone), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (oxycodone), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl), and violating conditions of release, Feb. 5, in Augusta.
• John C. Rastrom III., 28, of Waterville, violation of condition of release and violation of a protective order, Nov. 13, 2021, in Waterville.
• Trevor G. Rideout, 22, of Pittston, aggravated criminal trespass, criminal mischief and assault, Nov. 27. 2021, in Augusta.
• Dustin J. Schultz, 23, of Fairfield, theft by unauthorized taking, unauthorized use of property, criminal mischief and operating after suspension, Jan. 29, in Waterville.
• Jerry D. Sneed, 33, of St. Albans, operating after revocation, Jan. 1, in Augusta.
• Victor N. Soto-Sanchez, 37, of Waterville, two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), and criminal forfeiture of $6,356, and three guns, Dec. 14, 2021, in Waterville.
• Jesse Weeman, 25, of Plymouth, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine) and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), Feb. 1, in Waterville.
• Chad M. Whitten, 39, of Manchester, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl and/or heroin), on or between Oct. 8 and 9, 2019, in Waterville.
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