BANGOR, Maine — A Bucksport man accused of being under the influence of methadone while driving a vehicle that struck a sports utility vehicle driven by a Br ewer woman who later died of crash-related injuries pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and other charges Friday at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
Marc Sparks, 29, was indicted Wednesday by the Penobscot County grand jury on one count each of manslaughter, aggravated criminal operating under the influence of intoxicants, causing a death while driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.
Sparks’ indictment was not made public until after his arrest late Wednesday afternoon. He is being held at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post $25,000 cash bail set at the time of his arrest.
At his arraignment Friday, his bail was continued at $25,000.
Sparks, whose arraignment was conducted by Judge John Lucy via video conference, was driving south Sept. 13 on Route 15 in Orrington when his Dodge sedan failed to slow down and struck an SUV driven by Robin Rie, 59, of Brewer, according to a previously published report.
Rie had slowed to make a left turn into a vegetable stand in the area of 420 River Road. The impact forced Rie’s vehicle off the road and into a residence before it came to rest, according to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
Sparks allegedly stopped his vehicle for a moment before he left the scene. Sparks, who was uninjured in the accident, and his vehicle were later located in Bucksport.
Rie, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury in the crash, was revived at the scene by bystanders but died on Sept. 19, about a week later, Assistant District Attorney Marianne Lynch said. Rie was on a respirator at the time of her death.
According to her obituary, Rie was a 1974 graduate of Brewer High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a kindergarten through eighth grade teaching certificate from the University of Maine. She also served 21 years in the U.S. Naval Reserves, four of those years on active duty.
Rie was a U.S. Postal Service employee in Bangor until her retirement. She also was a real estate agent in the Bangor area for many years.
Sparks was represented by attorney Arrian Stockdell during Friday’s arraignment.
Stockdell argued for a lower cash bail combined with sureties, saying that Sparks has been cooperative with police and has a fiancee, two children and other family in Bucksport and therefore had no reason to flee.
Lucy denied the request, citing the seriousness of the manslaughter charge — a Class A felony — and noting that Sparks fled from last fall’s accident scene and still was licensed to drive outside of Maine.
Also on Friday, Lucy appointed Hunter Tzovarras to serve as Sparks’ court appointed attorney.
A dispositional conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 13.
If convicted of the manslaughter charge alone, Sparks could serve up to 30 years in prison.