Mars Hill man awaits arraignment
for solicitation of murder
Mark Stetson
By Kathy McCarty
MARS HILL — Mark Stetson, 40, of Mars Hill, is scheduled for arraignment next week in Houlton Superior Court on a number of charges — the most serious being solicitation of murder.
Stetson was among 59 individuals who were indicted in March, according to District Attorney Todd Collins.
“Stetson’s was the most serious case — one that involved solicitation of murder, solicitation of kidnapping and solicitation of robbery,” said Collins. “He was arrested following an investigation by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, the Maine State Police, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and my office.”
Sheriff Jim Madore said he could not go into detail as to what led up to Stetson’s arrest by his department Feb. 3, pending filing of necessary paperwork with the court. Madore did acknowledge that Stetson has a prior criminal history.
“Stetson was indicted on charges of violation of conditions of release and burglary,” said Madore. These were in addition to the charges Collins referenced.
Collins has since released additional information as to why Stetson was arrested.
According to the D.A., Stetson allegedly targeted three different victims for murder, robbery and kidnapping. Stetson reportedly tried to hire an unidentified individual to kill one of the victims and kidnap one of that victim’s relatives. Another individual who often stayed at the Mars Hill residence of one of the victims was also reportedly targeted.
Collins indicated Stetson told the person asked to commit the crimes to “do what he had to do” if he went to the residence and found that person in the home. Collins said Stetson told the person he attempted to hire to keep whatever he wanted after he robbed the home.
According to the D.A., no one else has been charged in connection with the crimes. Stetson’s motives were not revealed.
To protect their identity, the victims’ names are not being released.
Criminal solicitation of murder is a Class A crime, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Criminal solicitation of kidnapping and robbery are Class B crimes, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000.
Stetson remains at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton. His arraignment is set for 9 a.m. April 20 at Houlton Superior Court.
The Aroostook County Grand Jury completed its second session of 2011 on March 11 and handed down 65 indictments against 59 individuals.
Of particular note, said Collins, were the fact that 18 cases directly involve drugs and/or alcohol as the basis of the criminal charge. While not directly involving illicit drugs, substances, and/or or alcohol abuses, many of the remaining cases involve substance abuse or other drug-seeking behavior: 12 cases are violent offenses against other people; and 15 are crimes against property or financial crimes (including several theft charges based on a theory of an employee committing theft from his/her employer.)
Among those indicted were:
Melissa R. Anderson, 36, Houlton: assault with priors; disorderly conduct; and refusing to submit to arrest.
Robert Anderson, 60, Oakfield: assault with priors and violating condition of release.
David A. Boyington, 35, Danforth: operating after revocation; operating under the influence; and unauthorized use of property.
Casey D. Corbett, 22, Houlton: burglary; unauthorized use of property; theft (two counts); criminal mischief and violating condition of release.
Micah P. McGillicuddy, 23, Littleton: burglary; unauthorized use of property; theft (two counts); criminal mischief and violating condition of release.
Mark S. Stetson, 40 Bridgewater: violating condition of release; burglary; solicitation of murder; solicitation of kidnapping; and solicitation of robbery.
Jennifer Dirusso, 30, Houlton: criminal restraint by a parent.
Thomas F. Duclos, 63, Hodgdon: reckless conduct with a firearm.
Sandra L. Perkins, 43, Presque Isle: theft with priors.
Anthony M. Vangel, 20, Worcester, Mass.: assault with priors.
Laura Doughty, 24, Houlton: theft with priors (two counts).
Robert B. Parker, 42, Easton: possession of methamphetamine.
Edward S. Heath, Jr., 49, Bridgewater: receiving stolen property.
James T. Zielinski, 64, Ludlow: possession of a firearm by a felon and OUI.
Bonnie L. Sarmiento, 50, Woodland: theft by deception.
Lacie J. Gagnon, 19, Van Buren: theft and forgery.
Richard A. Larsen, III, 24, Caribou: burglary and theft.
Molly A. Turner, 21, Mapleton: receiving stolen property.
Adam J. Dionne, 23, Mapleton: unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (two counts).
Deborah A. Weaver, 52, Presque Isle: theft and forgery.
Terrie L. Crew, 49, Easton: unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
April R. Soucie, 26, Easton: burglary (three counts) and theft (five counts).
Rodney W. Nichols, 41, Caribou: theft.
Richard G. Lopez, Jr., 25, Presque Isle: theft.
Alan J. Bouchard, 32, Presque Isle: theft.
Jerome P. Carey, 55, Presque Isle: operating after revocation.
Corey P. White, 37, Presque Isle: domestic violence assault; obstructing report of crime or injury; violating protective order.
Gary M. Rider, 19, Madawaska: receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Eric B. Sirois, 19, Madawaska: receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension/prosecution.
Jacob N. Berube, 25, St. David: operating after revocation and unauthorized use of property.
Randy Scott Lee, Jr., 31, Fort Fairfield: operating after revocation, failing to stop for an officer and violating condition of release.
Barry D, Brann, 51, Fort Kent: possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Kevin L. Michaud, 28, Madawaska: criminal OUI, operating after revocation and false swearing.
Gary A. Porter, 24, Woodland: assault (three counts), disorderly conduct and criminal threatening.
Timmy J. Soucy, 26, St. Agatha: manslaughter, aggravated operating after revocation, aggravated OUI and reckless conduct.
Dawn M. Levesque, 39, Hamlin: reckless conduct (two counts) and criminal threatening (two counts).
Marc L. Raymond, 41, Caribou: theft.
Craig V. St. Pierre, 20, Van Buren: burglary and theft.
Craig L. Caron, 23, Van Buren: theft (two counts), burglary and stealing drugs.
Myles P. Ouellette, 25, Van Buren: burglary, theft (two counts) and stealing drugs.
Jeffrey A. Curtis, 28, Mapleton: criminal OUI, failing to report accident and improper plates.
Michael A. Fisher, 28, Caribou: receiving stolen property, domestic violence assault and obstructing report of a crime/injury..
Darrell D. Rouse, 62, Caribou: criminal OUI.
Jason R. Soucie, 38, Woodland: theft and forgery.
Jamie L. Parady, 32, Fort Fairfield: theft.
Pauline M. Sherwood, 57, Fort Fairfield: domestic violence assault and obstructing report of crime/injury.
William J. Quirion, 31, Limestone: theft.
Philip C. Adams, 35, Limestone: theft.
Sean J. McIntyre, 31, Presque Isle: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (two counts) and violating condition of release.
Shannon J. Walker, 27, Easton: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (two counts) and violating condition of release.
Craig T. Lizotte, 25, Madawaska: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
Troy A. Foster, 38, Blaine: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (three counts) and criminal forfeiture.
Luella S. Warner, 52, Caribou: unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs.
Bryon Nadeau, 61, Eagle Lake: aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture.
Christopher L. Small, 33, Mars Hill: unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Katie Marie Plourde, 22, Madawaska: criminal OUI; unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs.
Kirk A. Sharp, 29, Castle Hill: domestic violence assault.
Michael A. Turmenne, 50, Mapleton: assault and obstructing report of crime/injury.
Jeremiah R. Sock, 28, Presque Isle: aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs.
