Felony

 
A Lewiston woman is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor after an investigation by the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU).
 
On August 26, 2020, the Maine State Police CCU and the Lewiston Police executed a search warrant for Knox Street in Lewiston. Police arrested Laura Rideout (45) of Lewiston for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and transported her to the Androscoggin County Jail. A Sept 23, 2020 court date was set in Lewiston. Bail was set at $50,000 cash with conditions of no contact with any minor under 16 and specifically no contact with the minor victim.
 
Rideout is being charged with the following crimes:
-Gross Sexual Assault  / Class A crime
-Sexual Exploitation of Minor Under 12 / Class A crime
-Possess Sexual Explicit Material of Minor Under 12 / Class C crime
-Dissemination of Sexually Explicit Material / Class B crime
 
This investigation is ongoing and no further details will be released.

LEWISTON, Maine – A Lewiston man is facing charges after fleeing from police in Lewiston.

At approximately 11:40 a.m., on July 9, 2020, Tr. Ryan Phillips was in contact with agents from Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) who were requesting his assistance in stopping a motor vehicle in Lewiston.  The vehicle was suspected to be operated by Chad Nichols, 31, of Lewiston.  Nichols was a suspect of drug trafficking, had a revoked license and two active felony warrants for his arrest.  Tr. Phillips intercepted the vehicle near the intersection of Russell St. and College St. in Lewiston and initiated a traffic stop.  While the Trooper was approaching the vehicle, the operator took off, leading Tr. Phillips on a high-speed pursuit northbound on College Rd. into a rural part of Lewiston and into the town of Greene.  

The chase continued into Greene, when the suspect vehicle turned onto Rt. 202 headed back toward Lewiston.  Lewiston Police officers set up spikes on Rt. 202 near the Lewiston/Greene line, but the deployment was not effective.  As the chase continued back into populated area of Lewiston, the decision was made to terminate the pursuit by Sgt. Joseph Bureau.  Simultaneously, Pilot Supervisor Jerry Pearson was airborne and had a visual on the suspect vehicle.  Pearson led responding units to that vehicle and provided a description of the suspect, as the suspect fled on foot into a wooded area off Tall Pines Drive. Cpl. Jonathan Russell and K-9 Gus began a track at that location.

MDEA agents received a tip that Nichols had been picked up and later located him in a vehicle on Scribner Blvd, near the intersection of Webster St.  Lewiston PD officers were first on scene at that location and initiated a felony stop.  Nichols was taken into custody at this location and was charged with Eluding, Driving to Endanger, Criminal Speed, and Operating after Revocation Habitual Offender.  
 

Two Sherman men are facing felony theft charges after stealing a catalytic converter from another resident.

On March 26, 2020, at approximately 7:38 a.m., State Police received a report of theft in Sherman.  The victim discovered a catalytic converter had been cut off his vehicle.  Tr. Tim Saucer responded, and his investigation led him to a residence on North Street in Sherman belonging to 36-year-old Chris McNally. 

The residence was secured with the assistance of Maine Game Wardens and Maine Forest Rangers while a warrant could be drafted.  As Troopers, Wardens and Rangers secured the perimeter of the property fresh footwear impressions were

found leaving from the rear of the residence.  A State Police K-9 team tracked the suspects to a point where they were believed to have been picked up on a nearby roadway.  McNally, who was on probation for possession of schedule drugs, eventually turned himself in to State Police back at his residence. He was arrested on a probation hold and charged with felony theft.  

42-year-old Larry Morgan, also of Sherman, was arrested at a nearby residence a short time later.  Morgan had a warrant from Penobscot County for possession of schedule drugs and was charged with felony theft.

Both McNally and Morgan were transported to the Aroostook County Jail.  

State Police have recently seen a rise in property crimes to include burglaries and thefts this week on the Mahaney Rd in Easton and Waddell Rd in Castle Hill.  Anyone with information on any of these crimes or witnessing suspicious activity is encouraged to call the State Police in Houlton at 207-532-5400.