Man ordered to stay at shelter

ELLSWORTH — The man charged in a Thanksgiving Day slaying in Stonington will reside in the local shelter for the homeless in compliance with a judge’s order. The order was issued after the man’s arrest earlier this week for violating the terms of his release.

Richard L. Nevells Jr., 18, was charged with manslaughter last fall after Jeffrey Eaton, 30, died from a blunt-force injury to his head several hours after participating in at least one fight at a local home.

Nevells, who was 17 at the time of the killing, was arrested by Maine State Police on Tuesday for having contact with Eaton’s family.

State police Detective Matthew Stewart said Judge Bernard T. Staples ruled at a 5th District Court hearing Thursday morning that Nevells be prohibited from the Deer Isle-Stonington area until after his June 7 hearing on manslaughter charges.

Allegations made against Nevells at the hearing said he had driven back and forth in front of the homes of Eaton family members on several occasions, and on one occasion had swerved into the path of a family member’s vehicle.

One of the Eatons also testified that Nevells had directed an obscene hand gesture at him on Tuesday before the arrest.

Stewart said Nevells’ family members argued that Nevells had been forced to travel along at least one of those routes to go about his regular business. Nevells’ brother said the accused man had waved at an Eaton, but had not made an obscene gesture.

Before his placement Thursday in the Emmaus Center shelter for the homeless, Nevells had been staying in a home off Deer Isle as the result of a special placement granted in February.