ROCKLAND – The following indictments against 12 nine defendants, for a total of 44 counts, were handed down by a Knox County grand jury March 4 after meeting for two days. An indictment does not imply guilt.

Carlton E. Abbott, Jr., 60, of Belfast, burglary of a motor vehicle, theft by unauthorized taking, misuse of identification in Camden Sept. 18, 2019.

According to the affidavits filed in Knox County Unified Court by Camden police officers Wes Butler and Jonathon Morgan, the investigation began Sept. 27 when the officers were dispatched to Antiques at 10 Mechanic for a reported shoplifting in progress.

When police arrived at the scene, the person who made the complaint identified a vehicle pulling out of a public parking lot and said that the driver was the suspected shoplifter. The officers were able to stop the vehicle without incident. 

Police spoke with staff at the business and they stated that the male driver of the vehicle was also seen stealing items on the store’s surveillance video from the previous week. 

The driver was identified as Abbott and when police ran his license through Knox Regional Communications Center, they discovered that his first name and address were similar to identifying information from another recent theft in Camden on Sept. 18, which was a burglary of a motor vehicle, according to the affidavit.

On Sept. 18, Camden police had responded to Atlantic Ave. after a woman reported that her front passenger window of her vehicle was broken and her purse was missing with other items, including $1,900 in cash and various pieces of jewelry.

The next day the victim was notified that someone had attempted to use her credit card at a bookstore in Ellsworth.

Camden police spoke with an employee at the store in Ellsworth who said that a man had used a credit card with a woman’s name on it, which was declined. The man mentioned to the employee that he was going to a music store next door to continue shopping. A surveillance video was not available, but the clerk was able to provide a description of the man to police.

Police then contacted the music store and they learned a man matching the same description used cash to buy a guitar. The employee at this store said that the man mentioned his name was “Carl” and he was from Belfast. A surveillance video also was not available at the store, according to the affidavit.

On Sept. 27, after the alleged shoplifting in progress at the antiques store, police interviewed Abbott at the Camden police station. The suspect stated that he is taking several medications and if they are not working, he commits the crimes. Police then questioned Abbott about additional thefts in Camden and he admitted that he burglarized the motor vehicle on Sept. 18 and then used the stolen credit card.

Police showed pictures of the stolen jewelry to the suspect, and he admitted that he had the items at his residence, according to the affidavit. He also admitted to stealing another credit card at the Camden public landing and using it to buy merchandise at Walmart, the Tractor Supply Company, and Maine Sport.

After police recovered the stolen items at Abbott’s home in Belfast, they processed the recovered stolen items at the station, they said the approximate values were $1,000 in jewelry from the antiques store, $2,000 for the items charged on the credit card and $6,900 from the car burglary which included $1,900 cash and various pieces of jewelry.

Arron Snow Brooks, 40, of Rockland, trafficking in prison contraband (buprenorphine and naloxone pills) in Warren Aug. 29, 2018.

Paul C. Douglas, 56, of Rockland, domestic violence assault in Thomaston Nov. 26, 2019.

Jossilyn Ellis, also known as Jossilyn M. Robbins, 35, of Rockland, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine) in Rockland from June 8, 2019 through Sept. 5, 2019; conspiracy to commit trafficking in scheduled drugs, also in Rockland from June 8, 2019 through Sept. 5, 2019.

Walter L. Flanders, Jr., 31, of Rockland, aggravated assault in Warren Oct. 16, 2019.

Paul A. Heino, 35, of Waldoboro, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer in Washington Aug. 18, 2019.

Jason L. Goucher-Hewett, 35, Maine State Prison, aggravated assault at the state prison on Aug. 3, 2019; unlawful trafficking of a scheduled drug (suboxone); trafficking in prison contraband (suboxone); conspiracy to commit at the state prison May 4, 2019.

Arthur C. Marriner, 55, of Rockport, domestic violence assault in Owls Head Dec. 28, 2019.

Colby P. Oakes, 41, of Vinalhaven, aggravated assault, two counts, on Vinalhaven Aug. 23, 2019.

Rideley Scott II, 35, of Rockland, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and illegal importation of scheduled drug (methamphetamine) in Rockland Nov. 22, 2019.

Cory S. Simmons, 37, of Pownal, aggravated criminal mischief, criminal operating under the influence, criminal mischief, and refusing to submit to arrest in St. George July 11, 2019.

Donald Wood, 64, of Rockland, 11 counts of unlawful sexual contact, 10 counts of gross sexual assault, and one count of disorderly conduct.

According to the affidavit filed in court by Rockland police, the victim stated that she was sexually abused by Wood from 2013 through 2016. She confirmed that she was 12 years old when the alleged abuse began.

Wood denied that he abused the girl and agreed take a polygraph test. He then retained an attorney and refused to take the test, according to the affidavit.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com