ROCKLAND — The Knox County grand jury met for one day and handed down 10 indictments Jan. 2 against five defendants. An indictment does not imply guilt.

Shirley Cline, 67, of Spruce Head, was indicted for endangering the welfare of a dependent person, a Class C felony. The indictment for Shirley Cline, 67, alleges that “on or about between July 28, 2017 and Aug. 3, 2017, Cline did intentionally or knowingly endanger the health, safety or mental welfare of a dependent person, Ralph Cline, who was unable to perform self-care because of advanced age or physical or mental disease, disorder or defect.”

Ralph Cline was the husband of Shirley Cline who died on Dec. 6.  According to his obituary, he died at Coastal Manor in Yarmouth at the age of 83.

The affidavit filed by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in court, stated that they responded to the residence in August 2017 after Shirley Cline, the wife and caretaker, was transported to Pen Bay Medical Center, and St. George EMS reported that Ralph Cline was left alone in their home.

Before she was transported to the hospital, Shirley Cline had not made any arrangements for anyone to take care of her husband, who was unable to get out of bed and was unresponsive, according to EMS responders.

Police entered the home through a window since the door had been dead-bolted from the inside and found the man covered in feces and needing medical care.

After Shirley Cline was discharged from the hospital, she was uncooperative with the Department of Health and Human Services and police during their investigation regarding the alleged lack of medical care for her husband, according to the affidavit.

Police also received reports that the wife did not feed the man, change his clothing and clean his wounds.

She told police that her husband’s medical needs were being met to the best of her abilities. She also said that the was skeptical of hiring agencies to help because of her past experiences.

Shirley Cline entered a not guilty plea during her arraignment in Knox County Unified Court in August 2017. She is being represented by is Attorney Philip Cohen, of Waldoboro.

Chad A. Delano, 46, of Rockland, was indicted for aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, criminal operating under the influence and improper plates on Aug. 5 in Rockland. According to the indictment, Delano allegedly did operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants or while having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 grams or more of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath. He had a previous conviction of operating after revocation in February 2017 in Knox County Unified Court.

Jonathan T. G. Scott, 24, of St. George, was indicted for two counts of Class A aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, cocaine, a scheduled W drug, allegedly on May 22 in Rockland. Scott was within 1,000 feet of a school or a safe zone at the time of the offense.

Chelsea Thompson, 27, of Rockland, was indicted for two counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, cocaine, a schedule W drug, and conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs for alleged incidents occurring between April 25 through April 27, 2017 in Rockland.

Derek Vandoren, 34, of Rockland, was indicted for aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, methamphetamine, a schedule W drug, from July through August in Rockland. Vandoren was previously convicted of unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in April 2015 in Rockland District Court.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com