Habitual offender headed back to court
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A Mars Hill man indicted in March for his involvement in an accident Sept. 3, 2011, that resulted in one fatality and seriously injured another man, has yet another court date following his latest arrest for violating condition of release.
Presque Isle police received a call from Dep. Lawrence Goff, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, around 11:40 a.m. Saturday, April 7, reporting he’d seen William T. Barton, 51, of Mars Hill, operating a vehicle in town and that Barton’s license was suspended. Officer Lynn Hartley located Barton in a 1993 Saab on Main Street near the UMPI entrance shortly before noon and confirmed the suspension.
Officer Rob Thibeault and drug detector K-9 Dozer were called in to determine if any drugs were present. According to the PIPD police log, Dozer indicated a positive alert to the odor of narcotics in the center console area. Sgt. Dan Menard, Maine Warden Service — who was assisting the Presque Isle officers — subsequently searched the area Dozer had indicated, finding drug paraphernalia, a small amount of marijuana and other items. Officers then searched the vehicle’s trunk, where they located several beers in a cooler of ice.
Hartley arrested Barton for felony violation of condition of release and brought him to the police station for processing. Barton was given a Caribou Superior Court date of July 19 and was transported to the Caribou Police Department.
Barton’s indictment in March was the result of Maine State Police Trooper Shawn Whalen’s investigation being presented to the grand jury. After review, Barton was indicted on charges of operating under the influence causing death and operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, and also for possession of methamphetamine.
The 2011 accident occurred on U.S. Route 1 in Mars Hill when Barton, operating a 2010 Ford pickup, was involved in a head-on collision with a 2001 Chrysler wagon, driven by Jerome York, 21, of Medway, who had two passengers. Barton and Jerome York were transported to The Aroostook Medical Center with minor injuries. Jerome’s uncle, Herb Young, 52, of Mars Hill, sustained serious injuries and was later taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he remained for several weeks. Jerome’s father, Nathan York, 51, suffered severe trauma and died at the scene.
Following an investigation, Whalen later arrested Barton, charging him with operating under the influence of alcohol and possession of methamphetamine.
