Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

June 12, 2012

Dispatches

From staff and news services

PORTLAND

Dismissal and indictment in bat-and-crowbar brawl

The Portland man accused in an attack that critically injured a Standish man has been indicted, while the case against the other defendant has been dismissed.

A Cumberland County grand jury indicted Peter Tracy, 23, last week on charges of elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault.

Nicholas Richards, 23, also of Portland, faced two counts of elevated aggravated assault, but the charges against him were dismissed.

The men were arrested April 6 after an incident outside Shane Wescott's home at Pine Tree Estates in Standish. The attack, which allegedly involved a baseball bat and a crowbar, caused life-threatening injuries to Ryan Wescott, 29, and put his brother, Shane, 25, in the hospital.

Assistant District Attorney Bud Ellis said no charges are expected against anyone else.

At the time of Tracy and Richards' initial court appearance in April, Ellis said the initial information suggested that Tracy initiated contact with Ryan Wescott, and that Richards hit Shane Wescott with a crowbar after he tried to help his brother.

Richards' lawyer, David Bobrow, said his client was involved in a "mutual altercation."

Witnesses said there was tension between Tracy and Shane Wescott because Wescott was dating Tracy's ex-girlfriend, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.

Tracy remains in the Cumberland County Jail on $100,000 bail.

Disabled fishing boat towed to Portland by Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard crews from Maine rescued a stranded fishing vessel and towed it back to Portland on Monday.

The Coast Guard received a distress call Sunday afternoon from the vessel Prudence with four people aboard. The boat was adrift about 110 miles east of Gloucester, Mass.

Coast Guard officials said the Prudence had all the necessary safety equipment and a satellite phone, and crew members had told a family member where they were going.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Secretary of state to host Collins' engagement party

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will throw a wedding engagement party for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Clinton's plan to host the get-together was first reported by BuzzFeed. Kevin Kelly, Collins' spokesman, said the report was accurate. The site reported that guests include other female senators and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Collins announced in February that she was marrying Thomas Daffron. He and Collins met when both were Senate staffers. They are expected to get married in a private ceremony this summer.

Collins and Clinton served together in the Senate from 2001 to 2008, when Clinton was a Democratic senator from New York. Both served on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Collins was highly supportive of Clinton's nomination in 2009 to become secretary of state.

GRAY

Gray motorcyclist injured in collision with vehicle

A Gray man was hospitalized after the motorcycle he was riding north on Route 26A in Gray collided with a southbound vehicle that was turning left in front of him Sunday night.

Donald Bilodeau, 58, was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered serious injuries to his legs, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. Claudia Raessler, 63, of North Yarmouth, who was driving a Honda CRV, escaped without serious injury.

Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash, which happened at 9:42 p.m. It remains under investigation.

ELLSWORTH

Suspect pleads not guilty to murder, assault charges

A Lamoine man has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in a fatal shooting outside his home in eastern Maine.

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