Man released before arraignment Pittsfield resident is accused of manslaughter in fatal Palmyra accident

SKOWHEGAN – Stephen McCarron, 20, of Pittsfield was released from the Somerset County Jail on $5,000 cash bail last week, a full 10 days ahead of his scheduled arraignment on a charge of manslaughter.

McCarron pleaded not guilty at a rescheduled arraignment on June 4.

The former Detroit resident was indicted May 24 by the Somerset County grand jury for his role in a fatal accident May 30, 2000, in Palmyra. After a yearlong investigation, police identified McCarron as the driver of a 1995 Ford Escort that left the road on Route 100 just after midnight, killing passenger Jenni Bemis, 20, of Newport. The information was presented to the grand jury.

McCarron was arrested for manslaughter on May 25 and taken into custody at the Somerset County Jail. He was held in lieu of $100,000 surety bail or $20,000 cash.

Court officials said McCarron’s arraignment was rescheduled because he was still in custody and would not have to wait until the June 14 date set for arraignments from the grand jury session. The clerk said the District Attorney’s Office asked for the change of schedule.

Assistant District Attorney Evert Fowle said the court rescheduled McCarron’s arraignment along with that of several others from the May 24 grand jury.

“Our bail argument didn’t suffer,” Fowle said of the earlier court date. “We were familiar with this case. And they [the court] aren’t required to give us lengthy notice of a change in schedule. They were very busy that day.”

Several other cases from the May 24 grand jury were rescheduled to June 21, Fowle said.

Despite Assistant District Attorney James Mitchell’s argument, Justice Ellen Gorman reduced McCarron’s bail to $100,000 surety or $5,000 cash. He subsequently was released on the cash bail.

The District Attorney’s Office argued that the charges against McCarron not only were serious, but they also could result in a lengthy prison sentence. On that basis, Mitchell cited McCarron as a risk for flight from justice and asked that bail not be reduced.

McCarron’s attorney, Philip Mohlar of Norridgewock, successfully argued for a lesser amount.

McCarron’s release is based on several conditions, Fowle said. He is barred from possession or use of alcohol; he is subject to random searches and testing for alcohol; he is barred from contact with the state’s witnesses; and he is unable to operate a motor vehicle without a valid license.

The District Attorney’s Office was not sure whether McCarron’s license had been suspended after his indictment, but believed it could be.