BANGOR

Mom who starved her child drops bid to end state visits

Additional Photos

Portland Arts & Technology High School graduates Carl Ahlquist of Scarborough, Charlie Buxton of Windham and Nate Dobson of Falmouth sway to the music during the school’s commencement ceremony on Friday. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

A woman who starved her 5-year-old daughter to death in 1993 in Bangor has dropped her request to be freed from state supervision.

Tonia Kigas Porter, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was committed to a state psychiatric hospital in 1995. Since 2010, she has lived in an apartment in Augusta, unsupervised except for monthly visits by state mental health workers.

She went before a judge in Kennebec County a week ago to request to be released from all supervision.

WABI-TV reported Friday that a court clerk confirmed that she’s withdrawn the request.

State officials told the judge that Porter is committed to taking her medication, but they can’t guarantee it if she’s not checked on.

ALBION

Boy, 14, killed in crash after taking the wheel

State police said a 14-year-old boy was killed when the car he was driving overturned in his hometown of Albion.

Police said Ethan Evers was riding with three other teenage boys Thursday afternoon when he asked if he could take over behind the wheel.

The crash happened a short time later, when the car overturned on a dirt section of Barnes Road. Troopers say the boy was not wearing a seat belt and was killed when he was thrown from the car.

The names of the other teens have not been released, as troopers decide whether they will face charges for allowing Ethan to drive.

The other boys, who are 15, 16 and 17, escaped serious injury.

PORTLAND

Man must pay restitution to victim in child porn case

A Brunswick man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison on child pornography possession charges, and in a first for Maine, ordered to pay restitution to a victim in a video he downloaded.

Brian K. Rogers was also sentenced this week in U.S. District Court to eight years of probation.

His sentence included more than $3,000 in restitution to a girl in a video authorities say he downloaded.

Prosecutors told the Bangor Daily News it was the first time in Maine someone had been ordered to pay restitution. It had been requested before but always turned down, until a recent decision by a federal appeals court in Boston.

Rogers’ attorney argued against the restitution, saying the victim’s attorney’s restitution request was not specific enough.

FARMINGTON

Four indicted in connection with alleged meth lab’s fire

Four men have been indicted in connection with a fire at an alleged methampthetamine lab in Kingfield.

Joshua Bartlett of North New Portland, David Coffren of Kingfield and Seth Hinkley of Strong were indicted on one felony count of arson each. Bartlett and Isaac Moody of Phippsburg were each indicted on a felony count of drug trafficking.

Evidence of the meth lab was found in the rubble of the mobile home after it burned to the ground on Feb. 8.

Investigators told the Sun Journal they believe residents of the home were using the highly risky “one pot” method to make the drug and that’s what sparked the blaze.

Man indicted in standoff at Verso paper mill in Jay

The Norridgewock man accused of holding a paper mill manager hostage during a nearly 10-hour armed standoff has been indicted.

A Franklin County grand jury on Thursday indicted Francis Smith III on charges of kidnapping, terrorizing, criminal threatening and assault.

The Sun Journal reported that a judge set bail at $50,000 cash, barred Smith, 50, from having weapons, ordered him to have no contact with victims and stay off mill property.

Prosecutors said Smith had a shotgun and a handgun when he went to the Verso Paper Androscoggin Mill in Jay on March 14 and kept the manager hostage. He eventually surrendered.

Smith was reportedly angry at losing his job and upset at the treatment of workers.

His lawyers have said he would undergo a mental health evaluation.

AUGUSTA

Man charged after police detonate explosive material

An Augusta man is facing charges after authorities detonated explosive material they allegedly found in his apartment.

Jeremy Upp, 36, was taken to the Kennebec County jail where he remained held on a charge of criminal use of explosives on $25,000 bail Thursday night.

Joseph Thomas, acting state fire marshal, said his office executed a search warrant on Upp’s apartment at 12:45 p.m. Thursday after Upp’s probation officer expressed concern.

The Maine State Police Bomb Squad detonated unidentified material Thomas said was found in Upp’s unit.

Upp’s live-in girlfriend, Amanda Bechard, told the Kennebec Journal that the materials seized were purchased at a fireworks store.

Maryland governor to give Democrats’ keynote speech

The Maine Democratic Party said Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will deliver the keynote address at the Maine party’s state convention in Augusta next month.

The convention runs June 1-3. O’Malley will speak on June 2.

O’Malley, a rising star in the Democratic Party and the Democratic Governors Association chair, is serving his second term as governor of Maryland. He previously served as mayor of Baltimore for six years.

The Maine Republicans held their convention May 5-6.

Forty new police officers to begin patrol for holiday

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Maine has 40 new police officers.

The officers have graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. They received their badges following 18 weeks of study and training at the facility in Vassalboro.

Many of the new officers will be begin patrolling immediately.

— From staff and news services

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