Presque Isle manslaughter case tops grand jury indictments

5 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — The Aroostook County grand jury recently indicted a Presque Isle man on multiple charges, including manslaughter, connected to a fatal crash last year. 

The grand jury indicted Jason T. Ireland, 46, on charges of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated criminal operating under the influence, operating beyond license restrictions, criminal speed, and driving to endanger.

The charges stem from the death of 56-year-old Justin Brown Jr. in an Oct. 7, 2018, crash.

On that date, Ireland’s Subaru struck the rear of a Jeep Liberty driven by Brown’s mother, Betty Brown, 75, of Easton, according to the Presque Isle Police Department.

Betty Brown was slowing down in traffic while heading south on Centerline Road at around 2:20 p.m. when Ireland, who was driving behind her, failed to stop fast enough and hit the Jeep, according to police.

“The front of Ireland’s vehicle struck the rear of Brown’s vehicle, which caused both vehicles to roll over onto opposite sides of the roadway,” Presque Isle Sgt. Joseph Seeley reported in the release.

Justin Brown, who was a passenger in his mother’s vehicle, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. Medical personnel later pronounced him dead at Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle. Betty Brown, who had been wearing a seatbelt, was admitted to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.

Other indictments handed down by the grand jury in January and February, and released this week, are:

Shane L. Graves, 28, Fort Fairfield, domestic violence assault, two counts of tampering with a victim, violation of condition of release

Timothy Bolstridge, 36, Machiasport, theft (greater than $1,000)

Michael Cullins, 36, Ludlow, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, two counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon

Kevin J. O’ Keefe, 66, Needham, Massachusetts, theft

David D. Geer, 54, Fort Fairfield, domestic violence assault, two counts of violation of condition of release assault,

Darrell J. Theriault, 31, Hamlin, aggravated assault, obstructing report, criminal mischief

Robert E. St. Peter, 48, Presque Isle, two counts of assault, theft, refusing to submit, criminal mischief, criminal threatening

Kellie Stitham, 25, Mapleton, theft, burglary, criminal trespass

Thomas B. Poitraw Jr. 24, Presque Isle, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs  

Eric M. Condon, 32, Easton, theft, burglary, criminal trespass

Katherine Tuttle, 28, Mapleton, tampering with a witness

Timothy L. Philbrick, 26, Easton, two counts unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs

Derek R. Fitzpatrick, 28, Houlton, two counts unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, two counts aggravated trafficking drugs

Kelsey J. Foster, 25. Houlton, aggravated trafficking scheduled drugs

Spencer Goodine, 28, Presque Isle, arson, burglary of a motor vehicle, four counts theft

Erick D. Tompkin, 19, Mapleton, domestic violence criminal threatening with a weapon

Lawrence W. Ramaila Jr, 31, Cape Elizabeth, three counts gross sexual assault, violation of protection order

Jeff D. Fox, 50, Van Buren, burglary, theft

Anthony B. McBreairty, 20, Cross Lake, aggravated criminal mischief, domestic violence

Jesse J. Dewley, 21, Fort Fairfield, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs

Wayne W. Neely, 37, Fort Fairfield,  unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, operating after suspension, eluding, driving to endanger

Leonardo E. Davis, 32, Madawaska, three counts aggravated assault, two counts domestic violence assault

Joshua T. Theriault, 33, Cross Lake, domestic violence assault, obstructing report of crime or injury

Moinaptok Paul, 30, Limestone, gross sexual assault, two counts unlawful sexual contact, failure to appear

Raymond King, 43, Limestone, arson

Hunter King, 20, Limestone, arson

Kassandra Scott, 30, Caribou, operating after revocation

Troy C. Blier, 31, Fort Fairfield, operating after revocation, driving to endanger, unauthorized use of property

Cassidy Clair, 20, Houlton, aggravated trafficking scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs

Wayne L. Fitzherbert, 73, Caribou, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person

Craig A. Anderson, 52, Caribou, two counts unlawful possession of scheduled drugs

Nathan R. Morrow, 25, Caribou, aggravated trafficking scheduled drugs, two counts unlawful possession drugs, violation of condition of release, falsifying physical evidence

Zane M. Willhide, 22, Presque Isle, aggravated trafficking scheduled drugs, unlawful possession scheduled drugs

Beau Pelletier, 35, Patten, unlawful possession scheduled drugs, refusing to submit

Robert E. Brewer, 26, Linneus, burglary, theft, unlawful possession scheduled drugs, violation of condition of release

Willard H. Putnam, 60, Houlton, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs

Brigitte M. Dupont, 49, Linneus, endangering the welfare of dependent person, stealing drugs, operating under the influence, unlawful possession scheduled drugs

Chester J. Scott, 29, Littleton, stealing drugs, unlawful possession scheduled drugs, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person

Tiffany A. Kaelin, 44, Patten, five counts unlawful possession scheduled drugs

Terry W. Smith, 57, Patten, two counts unlawful possession scheduled drugs, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, criminal forfeiture

Teddie Jean Tremblay, 23, Patten, four counts unlawful possession scheduled drugs