ROCKLAND, Maine — Dennis Dechaine will return to the Knox County Courthouse on Friday to watch the selection of jurors who will decide whether he was in possession of illegal drugs while serving a life sentence at the Maine State Prison.
Dechaine, 54, is charged with trafficking in prison contraband. The indictment alleges that the convicted murderer was in possession of the painkiller morphine and/or the anti-anxiety drug Klonopin on April 5, 2010.
The crime is a Class C offense punishable by up to five years in prison.
After he consumed the drugs, Dechaine was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland to be treated for a drop in blood pressure and a high heart rate. He remained hospitalized for more than two weeks before being returned to prison.
Dechaine is serving a life sentence for the kidnap and murder of 12-year-old Sarah Cherry in Bowdoin in 1988. His trial was held in the same courtroom that he will be in Friday. The murder case was moved to Knox County because of the extensive pretrial publicity that the crime received in Sagadahoc County.
Dechaine, who maintains his innocence in the murder, also has a pending motion for a new trial based on DNA evidence that the defense claims could be from a third person other than Cherry or Dechaine.
Another big fat waste of taxpayer dollars on this animal.
Can You Blame Him? Serving a Life Sentence For a Murder He Didn’t Do? Yes That Is Truly My Belief!!!
He did it.
Only Jehovah knows for sure.
yeah ok….
You were with him. You should be in jail too then. Maybe you are.
The good news, if he is convicted on the drug possession then later found innocent on the murder, seeing how the drug charge is 5 years, they will just let him out on time served.
I don’t care much for him or his smugeness but I think you are right.. DNA proves it was someone else.
No. It does not. The problem with the “DNA” is that the original defense lawyer kept it for months and likely mishandled it. Maybe not intentionally, but no-one knows what happened to it during that time. There’s no avoiding that reality and the DNA cannot be trusted.
Why would a defense lawyer have possession of DNA in a murder case?
Good question, but the defense lawyer had for quite some time and as I recall from the news no one apparently knows how it was handled.
Exactly. As you said, his lawyer botched it. Innocent or not, the DNA evidence was tampered with and could not be used in court.
maybe he will marry you when he gets out
Mine too—–and I ALWAYS think their guilty, lol. This man is not guilty of murder.
I remember that case because she was the same age as me and I lived close to that town. I remember how we were always hearing so much about it while it was going on. It was very scary at the time.
Hmmm, I wonder how he got drugs in prison? The only possible way is if your hard working tax sucking guards bring drugs in prison. And why not, they get paid so little as they say, the only way to raise additional funds is to transport illegal drugs and sell them to prisoners. Had Dechaine died, the state could have been tried for murdering an inmate. Now that wouldn’t look too good on the warden’s resume.
Actually, inmates routinely sneak drugs into prisons a number of ways. While crooked jail workers is one, its not the most popular.
Yes Whitelilly, he did not do it, the DNA was all wrong!………….WRONG! He did it, they got HIS DNA out of that little girls cuts, do you think for one day that the DNA was wrong they would have tossed out the charges and set him free , why is he still in prison, cause he is GUILTY! Should have let him DIE, he took the drugs because he is a doper, He eas on drugs when he killed that little girl. let him go now and in ten days he will be dead from an over dose! Waist Of time taking him to trial. Give him another hand full of drugs and let him go!
This man must think he is God…………. wrong answer son , you too will be judged someday
Actually you are wrong. When the DNA was given over to the defense, by accident I might add, and an independant test was done, all that was conclusive was it was NOT him…..none of the markers matched Dennis….he was wrongly convicted….wrong place, wrong time…read the book, go on line and read transcipts…see hte lies by a ceretain then detective, then Sheriff…not good…sad,,,worst part is a little kid was brutely murdered..and they just took the easy way out…dissed all other susoects,,sad all the wat around…
I have never heard about this (apparently I live under a rock?) They have DNA that could could prove him innocent? Are they doing anything with that or do they have the mindset that he did it so there is no sense in looking at other possibilities?
Well,if they admit that they are wrong,the state of Maine will have to reimburse him a whole lotta cash,hunny.Thats why..A child was murdered.Horribly,And they HAD to pin it on someone.They have a pretty fair idea of who actually did it,as a matter of fact.Rad the book,”Human Sacrifice”.Its eye opening…
Thank you :)
I will read that book, I saw an excerpt last night when I was searching up some info actually
apparently you do live in hiding… come out and see the truth about the case… the DNA Was NOT His…
Okay mouth I am not disputing DNA… I simply stated I had never heard of this case before so I guess my QUESTION was if they have DNA that would exonerate him why is he still in jail.
You need to lose your attitude…You are freaking out all over this comment section, goodness.
Good point Bella.Hysterics are what got this man put on prison falsely,and we dont need them now.Thanks!
Unfortunately they have run the full course of appeals, they are limited as to how many appeals can be filed/heard, and once they have gone to the highest court, that’s basically it. There is still some hope, but not much. As for the DNA, back then there was no reliable testing for it. However, when the court gave back to the defense a box of files, evidence etc, they mistakenly included a DNA sample that was meant to go back to the the prosecution. This was years later, at a time when there was now very good DNA testing avaliable. The sample, which was skin/blood from under the victims finger nails, which is a very common location to collect DNA in any type of altercation, fight, rape etc type case had degraded to the point that they could only identify I believe 13 allele’s. So given they did not have a full DNA profile, this did make it difficult. However, off the 13 identified allele’s, NONE of them matched Dechaine, which plain and simple means it was not possible that it was his DNA taken from the victim.
Wow… that is intense. Hopefully they will do the right thing.
THATS A FACT!!!! Read The Fact RIFFRAFT!! Then put that n your pipe and smoke it… the killer is free in Nebraska!!!
So when the DNA evidence was tested by the defense and it cleared Dennis, did the judge suppress the info from the jury or something? I don’t remember too much about that trial and I was just wondering.
I don’t think in 1988 DNA testing was wide spread – This might help explain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_profiling
Thanks!
the right to your opinion like I stated ^^^^^^
I would like to see the day when they set this man free
AMEN TO THAT!! They will wait till he dies then go through the haystack with a fine tooth comb to prove he was innocent, like they have done to many others… that in itself should be considered murder committed by the judge and his accusers…!!!!
I remember the trial fairly well and there are lot of people here making assertions that just not true! There was a lot of contradictory and circumstantial evidence. The bottom line of the verdict was based primarily on whether or not there was a reasonable doubt. The Defense claimed that some of the evidence was omitted and the judge suppressed it. I don’t really know that I was convinced that he did or didn’t do the crime but I am fairly convince that he probably didn’t get a fair trial. I remember a few year ago they suppressed the DNA evidence. If he didn’t do the crime, then it really sucks that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The trial should have been moved to Northern Maine.
You Got That Right!!
I remember the case as well and what was most troubling was that the defense dreamed up an alternative suspect without a shred of evidence. There was no evidence to support that.
That was just a legal trick because they knew the “real evidence” showed he did it. Doing drugs in the woods. He was framed (anyone who believes that watches too much TV). Lied to cops about his truck and hid the keys in the patrol car. Etc., etc.
He’s guilty and T&E need to let go.
Little bare foot prints in the other guys driveway and someone hearing him with a little girl either “laughing or crying”? thats “made up evidence?Really?I hope you are never fishing in the woods near a where a murder occurrs.
He wasn’t fishing in the woods! He was in the woods injecting drugs into his arm! And if he hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t be talking about this. I would believe that he was innocent, but people become different on drugs. He has been called a “mild mannered farmer who couldn’t even kill his own chickens,” but who he was on drugs is different!
The little girls Time of death was listed as a time that Dennis was already in custody.It was a botchd search.The searchers heard a noise and the search dogs wanted to examine a place but they assumed it was ‘just a deer or something”…This case stinks.
this loser wont admit when hes guilty of anything
And Your Positive Huh????? Who the heck died and made you GOD?
apparently you did, are you a relative of his????
White Lilly,stop being so defensive,We arent going to get him out of prison by anger and ht=ysteria.Remember,thats what put him there in the first place,ok? We appreciate that you are upset,but think of whats best for DD,ok?Thx!
Oh my freaking word!!! You have got to be joking! Who gives a flying flip about drugs in prison. Go have at it!! This is coruption of the judicial system at it’s finest!!!!!! This coruption is truley INSANE!! This is what the taxpayers should be up in arms about……………..
WAKE UP PEOPLE THIS MAN NEEDS A NEW TRIAL…I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART HE IS INNOCENT!!!.The Suppressed Evidence Needs To Be Brought Back In and We Need A FAIR JUDGE!!!!
Are you his wife or something? No negative connotation at all, I just want to understand why you are spazzing out on everyone?
Bella,some folks are over the edge on this.Especialy women,Dennis was an attractive gentle man and it seemed that middle aged women were particularly influenced by this.Dosent affect he fact that he couldnt have done the deed,scientificly and geographicly..White lilly needs to CALM DOWN! She isnt doing DD any good with her hysterics.
Very true. Nice perspective Don :)
No his wife left him and changed her name because she knew he is guilty.
Reminds me of somebody that joined Village Soup forums and told all of us how our opinions were wrong. That person single handedly ruined their public forums for the locals. Worse thing was the person wasn’t even from the mid-coast and ruined a mid-coast forum for all us locals.
Stop yelling. Everyone is awake. Justice for the little girl that lost her life will never be enough no matter who they blame it on. She never had a chance to grow up, go to prom, get married or have kids of her own. I don’t know DD. I don’t know if he killed Sarah or not. I do know that yelling on here won’t solve anything. Get project innocents involved. Convince them of his innocense and maybe they can get him exonerated. Just don’t yell.
Lori?
One thing is certain-he did not get a fair trial. The Ag’s men say they could never convict an innocent man? The Innocence Project has found over 300 folks in the US who have been wrongly convicted
Obviously he is innocent of everything. This is just a ploy to spend our money – and spend our money – and spend our money – and spend our money. Even if he’s guilty, let him go. It will be cheaper.
Everybody thinks that DNA is the final tool to solve a crime. The DNA in this case is referencing a small amount that was found under her nail. That in no way exonerates Dennis. That DNA could have come from a variety of sources and ways. All the other circumstantial evidence points to Deschaine in my view. I have read the books published by the former ATF Officer and disagree with his conclusions. To me the real evidence is the transcripts of the trial themselves. Those transcripts convinced me of his guilt. As one poster said previously he was on drigs when the crime was committed and while in prison he was rushed to the ER for drugs. A leopard very seldom changes spots. I always thought it was strange that in his statements about that day he said he took “speed” that he bought from a guy in a bathroom in Boston. For all we know it could have been acid and he tripped that day. From the symptons he said he had that day it sounded like an acid trip to me. But let the court review the “DNA” evidence and determine if would have changed the verdict. I don’t think it will. Just my humble opinion.
Merry Xmas
No one knows who killed Sherrie and if Deschaine did it, he does not even know it. If everyone is so sure that he did it and you feel our justice system is fair and impartial, then why not a new trial and settle the issue once and for all? Before the discovery of DNA, many, many accused but innocent people were either executed or sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime they did not commit. I was a jurist in 1971 on a murder trial in Augusta and four jurors including myself struggled with our guilty verdict. In more recent years, I acquired a criminal justice degree only to be shocked by what I learned about innocent people being executed in America – Land of the Free. I am always amazed by the “don’t give a darn crowd” who seem to thrill seeing someone executed whether the accused is innocent or guilty. You all need to be accused of a serious crime that you didn’t commit to fully understand what I am trying to say.
Why would he jeopardize his so called innocence with drugs… Makes you think… Guilty as charged
Hey your honor man, your honor man, like my man here says, I only did marijauna like eh, 22 times, eh I ,mean twice and I only did acid like 2 times, eh yeah man, I mean once. But I do not need that marijauna or acid man, caused I am hooked on downers…
When he was first charged he admitted he was guilty and later on changed his mind to not guilty after speaking to his lawyer. If he didn’t do the crime why would he say he did it?
Boy this article went to the back pages quick!!!!!!
Well hopefully he will get his trial to prove his innocense before our prison system finds more ways to keep him in. Not to mention if he is found not guilty based on DNA then their is a killer out there. The police will then have to do their job and try to find the guilty person/persons who did this. Good luck with that!
Anybody on here ever hear the saying, “Dumb as a Dumont” ? Just asking.
Given what was presented at trial, I can understand why people are certin of his guilt.If you are among those, PLEASE read James Moore’s book Human Sacrifice. Moore did not set out to write a book. He was not “hired” by Dennis’ friends.
Please, give it a read. Exculpitory evidence was not allowed in by Judge Bradford.Alternate suspects were not allowed to be brought up, even though two had either a pending indictment or were under investigation for child sex-abuse. I could go on…
Human Sacrafice changed my mind about this case.PLEASE, give it a read . You have nothing to lose.
I have read the books by Mr Moore. His arguements do not sway my opinion. They remind me of the book written by Fred Bost about the jeffery MacDonald case. Its always easier to play Sunday morning quarterback and write stuff after the fact that is based on hearsay, rumors, and opinions.
I respect your opinion, Dana.I am glad that you read it and formed an opinion after reading. Many people have no interest in looking any further than the guilty verdict.
You and I see it differently, and that is O.K.!
Given what was presented at trial, I can understand why people are certin of his guilt.If you are among those, PLEASE read James Moore’s book Human Sacrifice. Moore did not set out to write a book. He was not “hired” by Dennis’ friends.
Please, give it a read. Exculpitory evidence was not allowed in by Judge Bradford.Alternate suspects were not allowed to be brought up, even though two had either a pending indictment or were under investigation for child sex-abuse. I could go on…
Human Sacrafice changed my mind about this case.PLEASE, give it a read . You have nothing to lose.
Sorry about the double post.
I normally leave papers with my name on them at an abduction scene
GUILTY…..This man has had to many oppunities to clear himself time to keep him locked up and forget about him. let him rot right where he is.
jjj