Grand jury hands up indictments

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MACHIAS — An East Machias man who led Machias police and Washington County sheriff’s deputies on a two-hour wild goose chase Dec. 27, 1989, after allegedly threatening another man with a rifle and shooting out his tires, was indicted Monday by the Washington County grand jury.

Indicted on separate counts of reckless conduct with the use of a dangerous weapon Class C, criminal mischief with the use of a dangerous weapon Class C, and aggravated criminal mischief Class C, was James O. Ackley, 45, East Machias.

Ackley is alleged to have confronted Kenneth Holmes with a gun in the parking lot of the Clipper Pub, a Machias tavern on Lower Court Street, around 6 p.m. Dec. 27.

Police arrived to find all four tires on a truck owned by Holmes shot out. Ackley was gone.

Holmes, who owns the Clipper Pub, told police that Ackley fired shots at him before fleeing the parking lot. Nancy Holmes, the owner’s wife, witnessed the incident, police said.

Machias Police Chief Robbie Dirsa rode with Sheriff’s Deputy James Day as Day followed a 1989 Ford Probe driven by Ackley east on Route 1 and north on Route 191.

The chase ended on foot in the snow, on property owned by Ackley on Palmer’s Landing Road in Jacksonville. He was arrested and held overnight at Washington County Jail, and released the next morning on a $25 personal recognizance bond.

The grand jury also indicted Barry J. Look, 35, and Annette Look, 33, both of East Machias, on charges of aggravated trafficking in a Schedule Z drug Class B, and unlawful trafficking in a Schedule Z drug Class C.

The indictment stems from a Dec. 20, 1989, incident in which police arrested the Looks after finding “in excess of 2 pounds” of marijuana in their possession.

The state also alleges that the Looks “used, carried or were armed with a firearm” at the time of their arrest, leading to the charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs.

Valerie Petersen, 38, Indian Township, was indicted Monday on two separate counts of aggravated forgery Class B and two counts of forgery Class C.

Petersen is alleged to have issued a $2,400 check from the Indian Township Tribal Government to Key Bank “for Mariah L. Stevens’ account.” A second check, for $1,000, allegedly was passed to Wheaton & McLaughlin Inc., a Maine corporation doing business as the Princeton AG Foodmart, “made out to Key Bank for Mariah L. Stevens.”

Photocopies attached to the court file show the checks dated Dec. 12, 1988.

Jayson Richards, 21, and Peter Richards, 21, both of Machias, each were indicted Monday on separate counts of burglary Class C, and theft Class E, for their alleged role in a Feb. 19, 1990, incident at Delia’s Branch Grocery in Columbia.

The indictments state that the Richards “did enter and surreptitiously remained in Delia’s Store, the business property of Marjorie Ramsdell, with intent to commit theft.

They are alleged to have stolen six bottles of coffee brandy and two bottles of scotch with a total value of $125.

Robert Adams, 18, Baileyville, was indicted on single counts of burglary Class B, criminal trespassing Class D, and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer Class E.

The indictment states that Adams entered the home of Virgina Donovan on Feb. 26, 1990 “with the intent to commit theft.” According to the indictment, Adams left with three cassette tapes, a necklace and $155 in cash belonging to Christine Donovan.

Richard McArthur, 29, an inmate at the Downeast Correctional Facility at Bucks Harbor, was indicted Monday on a Class C charge of assaulting DCF staff member William Spencer on Aug. 6, 1989.

McArthur was convicted in 1987 of arson in a July 19, 1986, fire set on property owned in Calais by Eugene Newell and Richard Glew.

He also was convicted of criminal threatening with the use of a dangerous weapon, criminal trespassing and terrorizing with the use of a dangerous weapon against against Glew.

He is serving concurrent sentences of 10 years, with all but six years suspended and three years probation for arson; two years for criminal threatening, two years for terrorizing, and 11 months for criminal trespassing.

Dale Preston, 32, Roque Bluffs, was indicted Monday on a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon Class C, and for discharging a firearm near a dwelling Class E.

The indictment states that Preston on Jan. 4 was in possession of a 12-gauge, single-barrel shotgun, which he discharged less than 100 yards from a home occupied by Grace Kane “without her permission.”

Preston had been convicted previously in Washington County Superior Court on Nov. 8, 1983, for operating a motor vehicle after being defined a habitual offender.

The grand jury also indicted the following people Monday for operating a motor vehicle after being defined a habitual offender:

Michael G. Gebo, 23, Eastport, caught by police while driving on Route 1 on Dec. 31, 1989. He was indicted on a second count of driving on Route 1 on Feb. 20. He was defined a habitual offender on April 26, 1987;

Sheila P. Carter, Etna, caught driving on Route 1 on Feb. 11, 1990. She was defined a habitual offender on June 6, 1988;

Reginald S. Metcalf, 21, Machias, stopped by police on Route 1A on Dec. 6, 1989. Defined a habitual offender on June 29, 1989.

Patrick A. Crowley, 31, Addison, stopped by police on Route 187 on Jan. 31, 1990 after being defined a habitual offender on Sept. 10, 1989.