December 23, 2024
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Grand jury indicts suspected arsonist

ELLSWORTH – A New Hampshire man was indicted Wednesday on charges that in March he intentionally set fire to a Bar Harbor home belonging to his girlfriend’s family and then remained inside while the structure burned.

Dennis Freda, 47, of Center Ossipee, N.H., was among 43 who were indicted this week by a grand jury in Hancock County. He faces two counts of Class A arson and one count of Class B burglary.

Freda is suspected of stabbing his girlfriend, a 42-year-old North Conway, N.H., woman, with an ice pick in New Hampshire. Police believe the man then drove to Maine to set fire to a summer home on Salisbury Cove in Bar Harbor that belonged to the woman’s family. Authorities have said that Freda stayed inside the burning building in an attempt to commit “suicide by fire.”

The 188-year-old farmhouse had extensive fire damage but remained largely intact. Fire officials responded and found Freda unconscious on the second floor. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

Freda’s girlfriend did not suffer serious injuries as a result of the alleged stabbing, but authorities have said charges are likely in New Hampshire.

In late March, Freda made an initial appearance on the charges. He had been held at Hancock County Jail, but also spent time at Acadia Hospital in Bangor, where he received psychiatric treatment.

Also indicted this week in Hancock County were:

Richard J. Watson, 21, of Carmel, burglary, theft.

Jody Miller, 37, of Ellsworth, forgery, misuse of identification.

Jeffrey S. Hobson, 45, of Stonington, operating under the influence, operating after suspension.

Jamie J. Beal, 18, of Surry, three counts unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Joseph E. Parsons, 30, Ellsworth, habitual offender, operating an unregistered vehicle.

Suzanne L. Torrey, 37, Penobscot, four counts unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, stealing drugs, operating under the influence.

Adelard W. Fleetwood, 18, Ellsworth, theft.

Allan P. Greene, 23, of Bar Harbor, theft, violation of bail, acquiring drugs by deception.

Eben O. Moss, 22, Holden, habitual offender, operating under the influence.

Ryan W. Daugherty, 22, Sedgwick, eluding an officer, failure to stop, driving to endanger.

Joel G. Wilson, 33, Franklin, operating under the influence.

David J. Smith, 37, Stonington, habitual offender, improper plates.

Michael W. Yurchick, 32, Sedgwick, operating under the influence, operating after suspension, driving to endanger.

Peter L. Richards, 47, Machias, eluding an officer, habitual offender.

Shaun G. Lemoine, 26, Swans Island, burglary, theft.

Scott R. Alley, 42, Winter Harbor, operating under the influence, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Michael J. Johnson, 24, Milbridge, aggravated forgery.

Colby J. Allen, 21, Blue Hill, burglary, theft.

Benjamin S. Foster, 23, Bangor, habitual offender, operating under the influence.

Richard W. Stanley, 51, Southwest Harbor, operating under the influence.

Tracey I. Jones, 37, Blue Hill, habitual offender.

Adrian C. Hanscom, 31, Orland, habitual offender, operating under the influence, failure to stop for an officer, violation of bail.

William J. Thun, 56, Bass Harbor, failure to appear.

Charles W. Robinson, 41, Milbridge, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Jacqueline J. Low, 38, Bucksport, two counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.

Louis J. Butler, 41, Ellsworth, two counts failure to appear.

Ronald L. Garner, 33, Ellsworth, failure to appear.

Scott J. Flaherty, 45, South Portland, failure to appear.

Harvey F. Gilley, 49, Southwest Harbor, reckless conduct, aggravated criminal mischief, criminal mischief.

Dennis A. Cross, 45, Bradford, habitual offender, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Ashan Z. Khan, 26, Bar Harbor, receiving stolen property.

Bryant J. Mannino, 27, Bar Harbor, theft, receiving stolen property, burglary.

Royal A. Montana, 52, Bar Harbor, burglary, theft.

Phillip C. Russell, 35, Verona, theft, burglary, criminal trespass.

Scott I. Oakes II, 26, Deblois, assault, criminal mischief.

Shane R. Jacobs, 19, Bucksport, aggravated assault, reckless conduct.

Timothy E. Rivers, 19, Winter Harbor, burglary, theft.

Raymond R. Allen, 48, Ellsworth, negotiating a worthless instrument.

Sandra N. Lanpher, 31, Trenton, two counts tampering with a victim, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, attempted unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs.

Alfred C. Lanpher, 37, Trenton, two counts tampering with a victim, attempted unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs.

Daniel T. Ruggiero, 29, Trenton, forgery, two counts of violation of bail.


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