WISCASSET — A Massachusetts man made his initial court appearance Friday on charges including manslaughter in connection to the August death of a Camden woman who was swimming in Damariscotta Lake.

Jonathan D. Roberts, 45, of Waban, Massachusetts, was indicted Jan. 8 by a grand jury that convened in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset, District Attorney Natasha Irving said. Roberts was indicted for manslaughter, reckless operation of a watercraft, and operating a watercraft at an imprudent speed.

The court issued an arrest warrant after the indictment was issued and he was arrested by police in Massachusetts. He then appeared in court in Wiscasset on Friday, when bail was set at $1,500 cash. He was released after posting the bail.

The charges stem from the death of Kristen McKellar of Camden on Aug. 2.

Roberts is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Jan. 31 in Wiscasset. He has not yet retained an attorney, court records show.

McKellar, 32, was struck while swimming close to shore with a friend in the lake in Jefferson.

The Maine Warden Service investigated the case.


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