ELLSWORTH, Maine — A local woman charged with terrorizing an Ellsworth police officer was ordered Wednesday to be held in Hancock County Jail without bail until she is mentally capable of assisting in her own defense.
Samantha McGuire, 53, of Ellsworth, was arrested Monday after allegedly telling a crisis response worker that she was considering setting fire to the home of Ellsworth Police Lt. Harold Page.
The state has charged McGuire with terrorizing, a Class D crime, and violating conditions of release.
McGuire has been convicted of terrorizing Page three times before. She is currently on administrative release for the most recent conviction, stemming from threats made against Page in 2010. On that conviction, she was sentenced on June 15 of this year to 364 days in jail with all but 30 days suspended, plus one year of administrative release. The terms of that release included not having any contact with Page or committing any crime.
McGuire was also convicted twice for terrorizing Page in 1999, according to court records.
McGuire was scheduled to have her initial appearance in Hancock County District Court on Wednesday, during which the court would decide whether to grant the state a motion to revoke her administrative release.
Her attorney, Charles Helfrich, told Judge Bruce Mallonee that his client could not take part in the hearing, citing McGuire’s mental health for her inability to assist in her own defense.
“She’s not in a position to understand these charges,” Helfrich told the judge. After meeting with Helfrich and Assistant District Attorney William Entwistle, Mallonee ordered McGuire held without bail until she was able to participate in the release revocation proceedings.
McGuire was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 23, after a crisis response hotline worker called Page to report the threat, according to an account written by Page and filed in District Court.
According to Page, the crisis response worker said McGuire told her “she had been sitting in the woods near my residence and watching me work in the yard and walk my dog. [The worker] further said that McGuire was thinking of pouring gasoline all around my house and setting it on fire.”
The crisis response worker told Page that McGuire had called the hotline, but Sgt. Glenn Moshier said in a court document that when he arrested McGuire in her Ellsworth home, she admitted to speaking with Crisis Response but indicated the service had called her.
Page wrote that the threats caused “an immediate and emotional response over concern for my family, my property and myself.”
Page said Wednesday that he believes McGuire is upset because he arrested her 25 years ago on a charge of operating after suspension.
“She never let it go,” he said. “It’s a major concern for me.”
No date has been set for McGuire’s hearing on the state’s motion for revocation of her administrative release, though Mallonee said it would take place as soon as the suspect is mentally fit to participate.
Follow Mario Moretto on Twitter at @riocarmine.
Ya wanna play with fire Biotch!!!!!!….
In twenty or so years when she is asked if she has any final requests, no doubt she’ll be saying, “You go out and get that SOB Page for me! That #$@$$&& arrested me 50 years ago. Go get him for me!”
Very sorry to hear about this. Police officers today face some very serious issues in the course of doing their duty. Thankfully they are still willing to put themselves out there to help us out, thank you very much for that!
This woman wrote bad checks all over Ellsworth last winter. She should already be in jail as she clearly has no regard.
Unfortunately, in this country, if you’re just plain ol’ bonkers nuts you can literally get away with murder.
I have to admit at first I thought this lady was just off her rocker. The more I think about it, the more I think she’s just a career criminal. I mean she’s been breaking the law for over 25 years now. How many chances are they going to give her before she finally hurts someone.
Probably should as many times as they ignore calls for help from citizens who pay their wages, who have neighborhood bullies who damage peoples property.
Haven’t I seen her working at the Brewer Walmart???
What in the world is up with the Ellsworth area this year??!?!
I just finished reading a book called The Center Cannot Hold. It has given me a whole new appreciation for the severely mentally ill. I hope she finds the help she needs and I wish for peace for Lt. Page and his family.
I couldn’t agree more with you…..she needs help and hopefully the court and system will allow her the help she needs, however chipping away at 25 years worth of illness that probably has never been addressed is going to take time, and lots of it……hope she gets the help she needs……
Poor lady obviously needs a medical intervention. And Mr page please be careful she is obviously or allegedly not stable.
Wow……talk about holding a grudge…..Crazy…..
Good woman for Tinkersville!!!! Take charge kind of gal.
Yikes!!! Someone help her or atleast help the general public.
Works better than a protection order from abuse, She needs to have bail on that reason alone.
threaten a cop= no bail….threaten a citizen= cheap bail out on the streets before dark. HMMM. thats about right.
Can someone tell me what administrative release is?
I’m with many other posters- this woman obviously needs some type of mental health help. I hope she gets it, and soon.
I want to ask her to marry me, I have been looking for a woman of this quality all my life…