Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Suspects in a southern Aroostook heroin ring were among those indicted during the most recent sessions of an Aroostook County grand jury.
According to information released Friday by District Attorney Neale Adams, the grand jury indictments included five Houlton residents: 23-year-old Rebecca Bither, 37-year-old Brady Bridges, 26-year-old Reuben Thomas, 23-year-old Daniel Vose and 28-year-old Patrick McAfee, as well as, Kimberly Vangel, 39, of Mars Hill. All six were arrested in September in connection with a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) investigation.
“During the summer of 2007, MDEA agents assigned to the Aroostook Regional Task Force began investigating reports that a group of Houlton residents were bringing heroin into the area and selling it,” explained Darrell Crandall, commander of the local MDEA division. “Additional suspects were identified who were selling prescription pain killers — some of which were virtually identical to heroin.”
After extensive interviews and surveillance, agents made their first arrest in early September when they intercepted Bud Cochran, 29, of Houlton, driving on Interstate 95 in Sherman. Cochran was arrested for violation of probation based on his alleged involvement with the sale and use of heroin.
Crandall said as the investigation evolved, informants purchased heroin and prescription narcotics from the suspects. On Sept. 18, he said agents raided the Sugarloaf Street apartment of Rebecca Bither and Brady Bridges, seizing both heroin and prescription drugs.
The following morning, Vangel was arrested and charged with trafficking. She was allegedly involved in getting heroin and prescription drugs from Bither and Bridges and selling the substances in the Mars Hill area.
Also arrested as part of this investigation: Daniel Vose, Patrick McAfee, Reuben Thomas and, a fourth suspect, Matthew Clark, 28, of Linneus. Clark was believed to have involved in trafficking heroin.
Those assisting MDEA agents in the case included members of the Houlton Police Department, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police and the Maine Department of Corrections.
Indictments handed up by a grand jury in this case are, as follows.
Rebecca Bither, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture.
Brady Bridges, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture.
Reuben Thomas, two counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
Kimberly Vangel, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and criminal OUI (drugs).
Daniel Vose, unlawful trafficking of schedule drugs.
Patrick McAfee, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
Fifty-eight other people were indicted in this most recent round of grand jury sessions in Caribou. District Attorney Adams said the grand jury only missed tying their record for cases by one. Still one of their busiest sessions, he said many of the cases involved multiple charges related to crime sprees. Featured mostly prominently, he added, are “drug abuse, trafficking and the consequences thereof.”
Jeffrey Albano, 25, Smyrna, burglary and theft.
Jason A. Allen, 24, Caribou, operating after revocation.
Thomas Beaulier, 63, Ashland, trafficking in prison contraband.
Steven Berthiaume, 27, Fort Fairfield, unlawful possession of scheduled drug and operating after suspension.
David C. Boone, 26, Crystal, operating after revocation and failure to give correct name.
Ryan D. Bossie, 19, Caribou, criminal forfeiture.
Lyman R. Botting, Jr., 65, Presque Isle, visual sexual aggression and assault.
Michael R. Brown, 30, Mars Hill, two counts of assault, terrorizing, two counts of operating after suspension, violating condition of release, kidnapping, criminal threatening, unauthorized use of property, and gross sexual assault.
Craig A. Bryant, 26, Caribou, nine counts of burglary and seven counts of theft.
Terrance M. Bubar, 27, Presque Isle, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Timothy J. Burns, 41, Limestone, theft and forgery.
Lauren Burke, 42, Ashland, trafficking in prison contraband.
John H. Carpenter, 34, Caribou, nine counts of burglary and six counts of theft.
Jason G. Chamberlain, 31, Allagash, criminal OUI and operating after revocation.
Scott Churchill, 24, Fort Fairfield, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs.
Christopher D. Condon, 30, Portage, unlawful sexual contact and unlawful sexual touching.
Terrie L. Crew, 46, Bridgewater, possession of firearm by prohibited person, violating condition of release, and gross sexual assault.
Richard L. Currier, 66, Mapleton, unlawful sexual contact.
Zachary Cronkhite, 21, Houlton, burglary and theft.
Jesse Degenhardt, 21, Houlton, four counts of burglary, four counts of theft, and forgery.
Beth Ann Doody, 35, Washburn, four counts of aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs.
Michael R. Doughty, 33, Easton, negotiating a worthless instrument and violating condition of release.
John Drake, 35, Caribou, 11 counts of burglary and nine counts of theft by unauthorized taking.
Brian M. Hale, 26, Limestone, burglary and theft.
Lee Hamilton, 34, Dorchester, Mass., failure to stop for LEO and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Dustin Haney, 19, Houlton, burglary, theft, and criminal mischief.
Justin Hannigan, 27, Houlton, theft and burglary.
David C. Harmon, 28, Presque Isle, five counts of burglary of motor vehicle, five counts of theft, criminal mischief, and violating condition of release.
Darcy Henderson, 25, Houlton, burglary, theft, and negotiating a worthless instrument.
Philip E. Howard, Jr., 21, Limestone, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and criminal OUI.
Tammie R. Howard, 38, Caribou, 12 counts of burglary and 10 counts of theft by unauthorized taking.
Mark A. Howell, 49, Caribou, elevated aggravated assault and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
Guy E. Howes, 41, Ashland, criminal OUI and operating after revocation.
Mark R. Huston, 49, Washburn, two counts of burglary, reckless conduct, elevated aggravated assault, criminal mischief, theft, and stalking.
Frank Lavway, 38, Presque Isle, criminal use of explosives.
Jordan Lincoln, 22, Houlton, three counts of burglary, three counts of theft, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
James E. Lint, 26, Caribou, burglary, unauthorized use of property, and criminal mischief.
Nicholas Lorom, 23, Houlton, burglary, theft, and criminal mischief.
Brad J. Marquis, 25, Eagle Lake, operating after revocation.
Lynn K. Martin, 41, Hamlin, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, and violating condition of release.
Stuart G. McBreairty, 31, St. Francis, criminal OUI, operating after suspension, and violating condition of release.
Timothy A. McGraw, 42, New Sweden, aggravated operating after habitual offender and criminal OUI.
Donald Michaud, Jr., 41, Houlton, gross sexual assault.
Joshua Moody, 25, Houlton, theft and OUI.
Paul C. Morse, 38, Caribou, 14 counts of burglary, 12 counts of theft, and operating after revocation.
Robert B. Parker, 39. Bridgewater, possession of firearm by prohibited person, violating condition of release, and gross sexual assault.
Jason Pitre, 25, Van Buren, five counts of burglary and five counts of the theft.
Carol Polchies, 45, Houlton, trafficking in prison contraband.
Jessi Polchies, 23, Houlton, trafficking in prison contraband.
James L. Sam, 24, Caribou, burglary, theft, and violating condition of release.
James E. Schillinger, 35, Presque Isle, criminal OUI, eluding an officer, and driving to endanger.
Darryl I. Sherwood, 57, Fort Fairfield, criminal OUI and operating after suspension.
Ronald S. Simon, 52, Caribou, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, criminal forfeiture, and violating condition of release.
David J. Theriault, 25, Presque Isle, operating after revocation and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Marguerite J. Theriault, 45, Fort Kent, two counts of assault, criminal trespass, and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Ray Varney, 19, Houlton, stealing drugs.
Jeanine Williams, 46, Limestone, violating condition of release.
Donna L. York, 40, Woodland, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs.
