ELLSWORTH, Maine — A Bangor man who was behind the wheel of a box truck when it was involved in a fatal September 2015 accident in Bar Harbor is one of 36 people indicted last week by a Hancock County grand jury.
Miguel A. Garcia, 41, was indicted Thursday, April 7, on one count of manslaughter and other charges.
Garcia was driving the truck on Route 3 between the village of Hulls Cove and downtown Bar Harbor just after 1 p.m. on Sept. 15, 2015, when the truck drifted across the road, Bar Harbor police have said.
Just moments before, Roger Beghtol, 79, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, had pulled over to the side of the road in his 2010 Buick Lacrosse along a section of the highway known as “The Bluffs,” which overlooks Frenchman Bay. Beghtol was standing by the Buick when the truck struck him and his car, according to police.
He died a short time later from injuries he suffered in the collision. His wife, Sally Beghtol, 73, was a passenger in the Buick and was still in the vehicle when the collision occurred. She was taken to the Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor with injuries that were not life-threatening, police have said.
According to District Attorney Matthew Foster, toxicology tests taken from Garcia after the accident indicate that Garcia was under the influence of drugs when the crash occurred.
In addition to manslaughter, Garcia was indicted on charges of aggravated criminal operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon.
Michael A. Ames, 28, of Sullivan, was indicted on multiple charges stemming from three domestic incidents last fall, including a charge of attempted murder.
In an incident last October, Ames allegedly used his hands to choke a woman to the point that she passed out, according to Foster. As Ames was doing so, he had called another woman and placed the call on speaker setting, telling the second woman that he was trying to kill the first woman and that he wanted the second woman to hear him doing it, Foster said Monday.
Ames was indicted on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence assault, domestic violence terrorizing, criminal mischief, obstructing the report of a crime or injury, violating conditions of release and violating a protection order.
Also indicted was a Lamoine man who was arrested in February after creating a police standoff at his home on Needle’s Eye Road.
James A. Day, 47, had been released on bail after an earlier arrest on domestic violence charges when he allegedly fired a rifle four times inside his house on Feb. 18. Three people who were inside the home were able to leave without any injuries being reported, and more than 20 police officers from four different agencies responded, according to the Maine State Police.
Day surrendered about four hours later after talking by phone to a state police trooper. He was indicted on charges of domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence terrorizing with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and violating conditions of release.
Three men from Waterbury, Connecticut, who were arrested in Ellsworth last October were indicted on drug charges.
Luis A. Hernandez, 34; Jose J. Maisonet, 22; and Carlos Pemberton, 39, were found with prescription pills and cash when police raided an Ellsworth motel room on Oct. 8, according to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The raid was conducted following a months-long drug investigation and was based on evidence that the occupants of the room were engaged in drug trafficking, MDEA officials have said. While executing a search warrant at the motel, police found 140 oxycodone pills with an estimated street value of $6,000 and $14,000 in cash. Each man was indicted on one count of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and on two counts of criminal forfeiture.
Roman C. Cook, 24, of Swans Island, was indicted on charges of burglary and theft.
Cook has a criminal history that includes burglaries six years ago at more than a dozen houses on Long Pond in the town of Mount Desert.
In that case, Cook and two other people caused more than $125,000 in damage to 13 waterfront homes on Jan. 18, 2010, when they broke into and vandalized the homes, stealing some items as they moved from one house to the next. Cook later was sentenced to serve two years behind bars.
Also indicted were:
Lacey E. Alley, 31, Southwest Harbor, theft.
Steven T. Bailey, 57, Mount Desert, criminal operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, operating a motor vehicle after suspension, operating a motor vehicle without a license.
Alexander D. Barnhart, 36, Trenton, unlawful sexual contact.
Brandy L. Bell, 29, Clifton, burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass.
Chester R. Bunker, 48, Ellsworth, domestic violence assault.
Evan M. Connor, 27, Trenton, assault, aggravated criminal trespass, driving to endanger.
Marilyn M. Davis, 39, Sullivan, theft.
Clifton E. Emerson, 39, Jonesport, aggravated criminal OUI, criminal OUI.
Ralph E. Fowler, 34, Eastbrook, violating conditions of release.
Cindy Gierke, 31, Sedgwick, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Gregory A. Gilley, 28, Ellsworth, unauthorized use of property.
William M. Hanscom, 52, Bar Harbor, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Trey L. Harford, 23, Swanville, eluding an officer, operating a motor vehicle after revocation, violating conditions of release, criminal speed.
Jonathan W. Hayes, 26, Bucksport, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, illegal possession of hypodermic apparatuses.
Timothy A. Jones, 24, Stonington, eluding an officer, operating after revocation, criminal speed, violating conditions of release, aggravated habitual offender, criminal OUI.
Amanda R. Kelley, 25, Tremont, theft.
Allen W. Kennard, 22, Deer Isle, theft, unauthorized use or property, criminal mischief, criminal trespass.
Scott G. Kingsbury, 53, Tremont, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Timothy L. Larrabee, 45, Milo, theft, home repair fraud.
Alonzo A. Lindsey, 31, Fletcher’s Landing Township, operating after revocation, failure to stop for an officer, illegal attachment of plates.
Ethan E. Moon, 24, Sedgwick, operating after revocation.
Amy L. Myers, 45, Eastport, theft, burglary of a motor vehicle.
Travis Nicholson, 43, Clifton, burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass, violating conditions of release.
Nicholas D. Pike, 20, Ellsworth, visual sexual aggression against a child, two counts of violating conditions of release.
Terrence E. Pinkham, 2, Ellsworth, theft.
Priscilla A. Tenney, 33, Columbia, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Brandon J. Thomas, 27, Southwest Harbor, burglary, forgery, theft, operating after revocation, violating conditions of release, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Nicholas A. Tracy, 27, Franklin, burglary, theft, criminal trespass, criminal mischief.
James L. Young, 44, Gouldsboro, theft.
