Prosecutor moving to Ellsworth Deputy DA to shift from Machias office

ELLSWORTH – A veteran prosecutor in Washington County is moving to Hancock County.

Carletta “Dee” Bassano, deputy district attorney in the two-county prosecutorial district, will retain her position as deputy to longtime District Attorney Michael Povich.

Bassano is leaving Machias and heading to Ellsworth to take over some duties from Patrick Larson, who left Povich’s staff last month to work in Bangor as an assistant to District Attorney Christopher Almy.

Bassano will continue to prosecute arson cases in Washington County, but will not assume Larson’s role as prosecutor of all juvenile cases in the district, she said. Povich, in an interview, said Bassano has been his deputy since 1986, except for a few years in the early 1990s when she worked in private practice.

Bassano wanted to move to a larger community, Povich said.

“She requested to lateral into that position and certainly deserves the consideration,” Povich said.

Bassano declined Wednesday to say why she decided to move, but said she is looking forward to it. She said she likely will prosecute Superior Court cases in Hancock and Washington counties after she makes the transition. “I don’t foresee a total absence from Washington County,” Bassano said.

Bassano has taken up the cases assigned to Larson for the next trial term in Superior Court, Povich said.

Mary Kellett, assistant district attorney in Ellsworth, will take on Larson’s responsibility for juvenile cases, he said.

“Just how it’s all going to be configured is still a work in progress,” Bassano said. She has already started picking up some Hancock County cases, but likely will not move to Ellsworth for another couple of months, she said.

Povich said Bassano’s experience in Washington County will continue to serve his office well in Hancock County.

“A Superior Court judge – I won’t tell you which one – told me several months ago Dee Bassano is one of the finest prosecutors in Maine,” Povich said. “She works her butt off. I’m sad I can’t clone her.”

Povich said the move should not be taken as any sign of whether he intends to seek re-election in 2006. He said he has just been re-elected and has not thought ahead to what he will do four years from now.

Povich was first elected to his position in 1974 and faced no political opposition until he ran for re-election this year. The 2002 race for Povich’s seat officially ended earlier this month, after a recount confirmed Povich defeated write-in challenger Steven Juskewitch by roughly 19,000 votes.

Povich said he has spoken with a candidate for Bassano’s position in Machias and hopes to get a waiver soon from a hiring freeze imposed by the state.