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May 27, 2010

Attempted murder levied in Gray shooting, assault

The charge against Jon Brown is elevated because of a previous murder charge dating to the 1980s.

By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Jon Brown, a 52-year-old ex-convict who tried to murder someone in the 1980s, now is accused of trying to kill the man who helped to raise him.

Brown was charged formally Wednesday with aggravated attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault and robbery. His bail was set at $500,000. He is being held in the Cumberland County Jail.

Police say he beat Harold Small with a blunt object Sunday night at Small’s home in Gray, tied him up with duct tape and then shot him in the head with a small-caliber rifle.

Small, 64, freed himself and went to a neighbor’s home for help.

He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. Scans showed that he had been shot in the eye, and that several bullet fragments, and possibly bone fragments, were lodged in his brain, according to the affidavit prepared by state police Detective Michael H. Zabarsky.

Small told police that his ex-wife is Brown’s sister, and that he helped raise Brown.

After the attack, Brown stole a large amount of cash from Small’s wallet and took his cell phone, police said.

That cell phone helped police track Brown, as investigators traced cell phone activity to a tower in Windham.

The state police tactical team, Southern Maine Violent Crimes Task Force and local police arrested Brown at a rental cabin in Windham Monday night. Brown’s last known address is South Portland.

Assistant District Attorney Bud Ellis said Brown is the first person in at least 25 years to be prosecuted in Cumberland County for attempted murder after being convicted of the same crime.

Brown was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted murder in 1983 in Portland. Authorities don’t believe Small has any connection to the earlier conviction.

The prior conviction means Brown is being charged with aggravated attempted murder this time.

Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@pressherald.com

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