Sister of murder victim indicted for arson

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BANGOR – The sister of murder victim Mindy Gould was indicted Monday for arson.

A Penobscot County grand jury charged Melanie Bragg, 39, of Dexter with setting fire May 29 to the Dexter house where Gould and the boy she was baby-sitting were killed execution-style 41/2 years ago.

Bragg, who has no criminal history, was released on $3,000 cash bail June 8 after spending 11 days in Penobscot County Jail, some of it on suicide watch.

The incident that apparently led to the fire at 136 Church St., the Dexter home Bragg shared with Alan LaFountain, began as a domestic dispute the day before the fire, according to court documents.

Bragg allegedly left the house in a taxi about 10 minutes before a neighbor reported the fire.

It was extinguished in an hour by the Dexter Fire Department.

Bragg’s 20-year-old sister and 21-month-old Treven Cunningham were slain there Dec. 3, 1999. Both victims were shot in the back of the head. Bragg discovered the bodies.

Jeffrey Cookson, 41, Mindy Gould’s former boyfriend, is serving two consecutive life sentences at the Maine State Prison for the murders.

If convicted of arson, Bragg could face up to 40 years in prison.

Others indicted Monday in Penobscot County Superior Court were the following:

Amy Alvarez, 18, Lamoine, two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Daniel R. Asselin, 36, Bangor operating after revocation, criminal operating under the influence of intoxicants.

John W. Auclair Jr., 19, Bangor, burglary, criminal trespass, criminal threatening, criminal mischief, violation of a protective order.

Laurie Beal, 39, Bucksport, terrorizing, two counts of criminal restraint.

Michael Blish, 35, Lee, gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact.

Callie Brown, 23, Bangor, theft.

Brandy L. Cameron, 24, operating after revocation.

Christopher Coty, 24, Greenfield, operating after revocation, violation of condition of release.

Lawrence D. Cyr, 28, Bangor, two counts of receiving stolen property, forgery.

Robert Dean Davis, Jr., 34, Alton, robbery, assault, theft.

Leroy Dunn, 22, Bangor, forgery, receiving stolen property.

Allan R. Farrar, 29, Dexter, operating after revocation.

Kimberly Garceau, 42, Milford, operating after revocation, criminal operating under the influence of intoxicants, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Todd A. Howe, 38, Belfast, operating after revocation.

Kurt A. Jarzabek, 25, Corinth, aggravated criminal trespass, assault.

Shawab A. Jenkins, 28, Bangor, assault, aggravated criminal trespass, criminal trespass.

Gary P. Kobrin, 26, Orrington, receiving stolen property.

Michele L. Landry, 21, Bangor, theft.

Crystal N. LaPlante, 20, Glenburn, stealing drugs.

Chad D. Laws, 27, Orrington, operating after revocation.

George A. Lawson, 35, Etna, assault, terrorizing, two counts violation of condition of release, three counts of operating after revocation, improper use of plates, operating unregistered motor vehicle.

Frank Leathers, 19, Waldoboro, gross sexual assault.

Bradford R. Moleon, 20, Old Town, eluding officer, marijuana cultivation, criminal speeding.

Joshua A. Noyes, 25, Dixmont, burglary, criminal trespass, criminal threatening, criminal mischief, assault.

Allen R. Randall, 42, Winterport, operating after revocation, criminal operating under influence of intoxicants, operating without a license.

Charles Richards, 33, Bangor, theft.

Christopher D. Sapiel, 29, Old Town, failure to report.

Laurie Ann Sheldon, 31, aka Giselle Turner, 24, Hampden, aggravated forgery, criminal operating under the influence of intoxicants, operating after suspension.

Jeremy A. Shorey, 24, Burlington, operating after revocation, operating unregistered motor vehicle.

Clifford John Sprague, 26, Dexter, operating after revocation.

Summer L. Taylor, 24, Brewer, receiving stolen property.

Matthew J. Willette, 39, Hermon, theft.

James E. York, 45, Bangor, operating after revocation, theft, improper plates.