SKOWHEGAN – A former standout basketball star at Maine Central Institute and a Rome man nationally known for his charitable works were both indicted on sex charges Friday in separate incidents.

Also indicted was a Hartland man who allegedly entered a Skowhegan home and took four other men hostage in February.

In all, 10 people were indicted and are to be arraigned in Somerset County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 6.

The athlete, Aaron Nichols, 20, of Cleveland, Ohio, has been charged with gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact, and assault involving attacks on several female students at MCI in September, October and November 2001.

Nichols left the school shortly after his arrest on Feb. 4 after a 15-year-old student reported to officials that she had been raped by Nichols. While at MCI, Nichols was a member of the prestigious MCI postgraduate basketball team.

Also indicted and charged with gross sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor and aggravated furnishing of drugs was Richard Hammond Sr., 64, of Rome.

Hammond is accused of drugging a 15-year-old Oakland girl last November and then sexually assaulting her at a Fairfield motel.

Hammond is national director of the Forty and Eight, a fraternal organization of 50,000 veterans. He also operated the former Maine veterans shelter that used to be located on College Avenue in Waterville and was known throughout central Maine for his relief efforts when residents in other states were struck by hurricanes and tornadoes.

Kelly Simpson, 36, of Hartland also was indicted Friday, charged with criminal threatening, kidnapping, and reckless conduct with the use of a dangerous weapon. Simpson was arrested Feb. 16 after he allegedly burst into a Skowhegan home and held four men hostage at gunpoint for several hours.

During an attempt by the men to take control of the situation, a fight broke out and Simpson was shot in the upper leg. The men told police that during the ordeal Simpson continually talked to people who were not present. After his arrest, Simpson was ordered to undergo a mental examination. He remains in custody, held on $150,000 cash bail.

Also indicted was Joshua Thornton, 22, of Burnham, on three counts of burglary of a motor vehicle, six counts of theft, three counts of burglary, and misuse of credit identification. All of the incidents took place on March 1 in Canaan.

Thornton recently was arrested in Pittsfield and charged with breaking into Pittsfield Pharmacy and taking OxyContin. Last week in Newport District Court he pleaded guilty to possession of OxyContin. He was arrested by Officer Gary Morin on Jan. 3 and told Morin that he intended to sell the drugs.

Thornton was sentenced by Judge Ann Murray in the Newport case to 30 days in jail, all suspended, and one year probation with the conditions that he submit to random searches and tests and undergo substance abuse counseling.

The Pittsfield burglary and drug charges are still pending.

Others arraigned in Skowhegan on Friday include:

Jennifer LaCroix, 24, Newport, burglary and theft, Aug. 4, 2001, in Palmyra.

Jennifer Watson, 28, Skowhegan, acquiring drugs by deception, Oct. 12, 2001, in Palmyra.

Dana Sherburne, 31, Madison, gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact, between July 2001 and October 2001 in Madison.

Keith Bachelder, 37, Avon, four counts gross sexual assault, between November 1997 and August 2001 in North Anson.

Douglas Stebbins, 18, Madison, 10 counts burglary of a motor vehicle and 10 counts of theft on Nov. 11, 2001, in Madison.

Richard Elian, 44, Fairfield, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, trafficking in dangerous knives, criminal forfeiture of $950 and criminal forfeiture of firearms, Dec. 14, 2001, in Fairfield.