Attorney General Steve Rowe announced today that two new public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors will begin airing today. The PSAs were produced by the Office of the Attorney General and are an attempt to educate adults about the importance of underage drinking laws.

Rowe said, "As we head into the holiday season, many youth will attend parties with adult friends and family members. It is critically important for adults to realize that providing alcohol to minors is illegal and can have tragic consequences."

The Attorney General's Office today released the following information regarding the weekend murder of a Fayette girl:

The Attorney General has today charged a juvenile, Patrick Armstrong (DOB 4/4/91), with the murder of Marlee Johnston on November 26, 2005. The Attorney General's Office expects that Armstrong will appear in Augusta District Court tomorrow, December 1, at 8:30 a.m.

Chief Medical Examiner Margaret Greenwald, M.D., and Attorney General Steven Rowe today asked the public for assistance in identifying John Doe #21, a dead man recovered by the Coast Guard in the ocean 27 miles off Jonesport on July 24, 2000. A forensic artist and computer enhancement specialist from South Carolina volunteered his efforts to generate a sketch and photo of what the man looked like in life. Greenwald and Rowe released the sketch and photo for the first time in Maine today in the hope that someone will recognize him.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that his office has filed an action under the Maine Civil Rights Act against Reginald Theriault, 18, of Springvale, and a second defendant, a 16 year-old Sanford High School student of Acton, as a result of their violent acts and threats against a 13 year-old middle school student based on their biases against his race or color.

Attorney General Rowe announced today that a recent study published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice has ranked Maine first in the nation in enforcing laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors. The study ranked 20 states, 10 of the highest performing and 10 of lowest performing in preventing underage tobacco sales, and looked at the effectiveness of 26 enforcement strategies. The Attorney General's Office administers compliance with tobacco sales laws.

The Attorney General today released the name of the person who was killed in a shootout with police yesterday in Brunswick. He was Kim David Niedermann, 54, of Thomaston. The Chief Medical Examiner certified that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the neck. The Chief Medical Examiner also found a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday unanimously affirmed the State's lower court win in the case challenging Maine's Unfair Prescription Drug Practices Act (UPDPA).

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that Harry J. Smith, Jr., an environmental criminal listed on Maine's Most Wanted List, was apprehended this morning at a salvage business in Everett, Massachusetts. In July, 2003, the Superior Court in Washington County ordered Smith, 65, to serve 6 months in jail for violating probation linked to criminal convictions concerning tire stockpiles at his junkyards in Meddybemps, Maine.

Charles Dow, Special Assistant Attorney General, 207-626-8577

Attorney General Steve Rowe today wrote a letter to the members of Maine's Congressional delegation asking them to use their influence to get the federal government to immediately commission an independent, professional, in-depth study of petroleum markets.