Princeton man claims self-defense in stabbing

PRINCETON – According to an affidavit filed in 4th District Court by state police last week, William Moholland, 21, of Princeton, said he was trying to defend himself when he fatally stabbed Kenneth McDowell, 21, on May 12. In the same affidavit, the statement of a witness contradicts Moholland’s version of the incident.

McDowell was fatally wounded when he and Moholland became embroiled in an altercation about 2 a.m. on May 12 at the Boudreau Trailer Park on the Eastern Cutoff Road in Princeton, about a quarter-mile off Route 1. According to many reportes, the two men had been good friends before the stabbing.

The events that led up to McDowell’s death were sketchy, but there were reports that the altercation between the two Princeton men took place after McDowell interceded in an argument between Moholland and Moholland’s girlfriend.

According to the affidavit of state police Detective Joseph Doucette, Moholland, during questioning after the stabbing, waived his right to have an attorney present and gave police his version of events that led to the fatal encounter.

Moholland said that he and his girlfriend, Donna Mitchell, attended a wedding May 11 that also was attended by Shawn Bohannon, Rodney Fitch and Robert Roussel. He said that the five of them left the party about mid-night and went to Fitch’s home on Main Street in Princeton. Moholland said at about 12:30 a.m., after the three men made what he described as “sexual overtures” to Michell, he and Mitchell left the Fitch residence and walked to his home on the Eastern Cutoff Road, about three-quarters of a mile away.

According to the affidavit, Moholland said that after he got home, he dozed off for a short time and awoke to find Mitchell gone. He said he left to look for her and saw Bohannon’s vehicle parked near a mobile home at the Boudreau Trailer Park a short distance away. He said he entered the mobile home and found Mitchell there with the three men. Moholland said he trashed the trailer, grabbed Mitchell and left. He said the three men then got into Bohannon’s car.

Althugh Moholland had not mentioned McDowell up to this point, he said in the affidavit that McDowell got out of Bohannon’s car and threatened him with a small knife. Moholland claimed that, in fear for his life, he and Mitchell ran to his residence, a short distance away. He said he grabbed a knife and met McCowell at the back door of the residence. Moholland said they fought on the back doorstep, and that he (Moholland) stabbed McDowell.

In his statement to police Moholland said that after McDowell was stabbed, he laughed and told Moholland he would report him to the police. Moholland said he later became frightened when he saw police cars arrive and he and Mitchell went to a nearby residence wher he said he call the Calais police.

Moholland is being held without bail at the Washington County Jail. Judge-at_large Leigh Soufley set a bail hearing for June 3 and a probable cause hearing for June 11.