Plea on gun count avoids murder charge

PORTLAND – Prosecutors have dropped a murder charge against a Portland man in exchange for his guilty plea to one count of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.

Randel Phillips, 46, was charged with murder for allegedly gunning down a 25-year-old New York man who had attempted to rob him in his Portland apartment in April.

But Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese said two men broke into Phillips’ apartment, apparently to settle a score over perceived disrespect by Phillips against one of the men. Phillips then fired shots outside his apartment, killing Lashawn Covington.

As part of the plea agreement, Phillips was sentenced Tuesday in Cumberland County Superior Court to 55 days in jail, the amount of time he has already served.