BANGOR, Maine — When Anthony Lord of Houlton had his first court appearance in July — after an 18-hour rampage and manhunt that left two men dead from gunshots and four others injured — he asked to see a mental health professional, Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea said Thursday.
“He said he needed to see someone quickly because he was not in his right mind,” Zainea, who is prosecuting the case against Lord, told Superior Court Justice Ann Murray at a hearing about whether a psychological evaluation was needed.
Lord, who has a long criminal history and is a lifetime registrant on the Maine Sex Offender Registry, was arrested July 17 after allegedly kidnapping Brittany Irish from her mom’s house in Benedicta and going on a shooting spree that resulted in the deaths of Kevin Tozier, 58, of Lee and Kyle Hewitt, 22, of Bangor, who was Irish’s boyfriend.
Zainea said in court Lord has a history of mental health treatment and that his defense attorneys have hired a mental health professional to evaluate Lord, adding the mental evaluation of whether Lord is criminally responsible or if he has an abnormal mind would only be released to the prosecution if his attorneys use it as a defense.
“The state is perfectly happy to have that embargoed unless the defense decided to use it,” Zainea said.
She stressed that in criminal cases, suspects “really need to be looked at and evaluated as close to the time of the alleged criminal conduct.”
Lord’s Bangor attorney Logan Perkins, who is his co-counsel with Hunter Tzovarras, strongly opposed the idea of a forced evaluation.
“We object to it,” Perkins said, with Lord sitting beside her in court.
She said later it was wrong to “require the defendant to submit to an evaluation against his will.”
Perkins also said the defense team hired the mental health evaluator because it’s their job “to explore all avenues.”
Murray agreed with the state and ordered the psychological exam. She also set Sept. 14 as his arraignment date.
Lord was indicted Wednesday by the Penobscot County grand jury on one count each of intentional or knowing murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, eluding an officer and three counts of reckless conduct with a firearm.
Lord also has been charged with murder and kidnapping in Aroostook County. He has not yet been indicted in that county because the Aroostook County grand jury next convenes Sept. 11 in Houlton.
Lord, who surrendered at the home of his uncle Carl Lord Jr. in Houlton, is being held without bail at the Aroostook County Jail.
If convicted, Lord faces between 25 years and life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled a defendant convicted on multiple counts of murder may be sentenced to life in prison.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.