FARMINGTON

Bay State man waives right to jury trial in fatal stabbing

A Massachusetts man who is accused of killing an 81-year-old woman has waived his right to a jury trial.

Juan Contreras of Waltham, Mass., told a judge in Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday that he understood his rights to have a jury trial.

The Sun Journal reported that the judge accepted the waiver and set aside five days for the trial in November.

Contreras, 28, has pleaded not guilty to the June 2011 stabbing death of Grace Burton in her Farmington home.

Police said Burton was stabbed 35 times. Before she died, she managed to call 911 and give police a description of her attacker.

Contreras is being held without bail. He was living in Farmington at the time of Burton’s death. He was linked to the slaying through DNA.

PORTLAND

Biddeford man, 32, charged after car swerves into marsh

A Biddeford man was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and driving after license suspension after he drove his car off the end of Martin’s Point Bridge and into a tree, police said Wednesday.

Derek Johnson, 32, was treated for injuries after the crash, which happened at 9:30 a.m. Motorists reported that the northbound Toyota was weaving badly, crossing the centerline, almost hitting a car head-on and going onto the sidewalk, police said. The car then swerved through the southbound lane and off the road into the marsh.

When police arrived, Johnson had climbed up the embankment and was lying on the sidewalk, police said.

The man told police he was headed to visit a friend in Falmouth. They believe he had used some type of synthetic marijuana that can be purchased at convenience stores.

Three unions can join suit against retirement system

Three public worker unions have been allowed to join a lawsuit against the Maine Public Employees Retirement System over the elimination of cost-of-living adjustments.

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the Maine State Employees Association, Maine Education Association and Maine State Troopers Association can join the Maine Association of Retirees in its lawsuit filed in February.

The 15,000-member retirees association sued the retirement system over the elimination of cost-of-living adjustments for three years and a new cap on cost-of-living increases after that.

The unions say in the complaint that the elimination of cost-of-living adjustments for retired employees violated the Constitution as an unlawful taking of property without just compensation, and a violation of the contract clause.

The retirement system says the elimination will save the state millions of dollars.

Registered voters can get absentee ballot or vote now

Absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 election are now available.

Registered voters can request an absentee ballot by fax, email or in person at the City Clerk’s Office. Voters also have the option to vote absentee in person at the City Clerk’s Office between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 1. The office will extend its hours until 8 p.m. Nov. 1.

Residents voting by absentee ballot will receive a state ballot and one city ballot. All ballots are double-sided.

Only registered voters will receive an absentee ballot. To register to vote in Portland, residents must bring identification and proof of residency. Portland residents can register to vote at their polling place on Election Day.

Additional information about voting in Portland is available at www.portlandvoters.com or by calling the voter hotline at 874-8677.

ARUNDEL

Portland man, 23, arrested for theft, assaulting deputy

A Portland man has been charged with assaulting a sheriff’s deputy after an alleged shoplifting incident Wednesday morning at a convenience store.

The York County Sheriff’s Office charged Timothy Nash, 23, with theft and assault.

Police said they got a report of a shoplifter in the Big Apple store on Portland Road in Arundel. When deputies arrived, they saw Nash leave the store and walk to the rear of the building, police said. The clerk told police that Nash had grabbed several food items, valued at $13.50.

Nash was arrested moments later. As he was being put in the cruiser, police say, he kicked a deputy in the chest. Nash was held in the York County Jail on $500 cash bail.

BRIDGEWATER

Potato house worker, 80, dies after being run over

State police say an 80-year-old potato worker died after being run over by a potato truck in Aroostook County.

Investigators say the driver apparently was unaware that Dorothy Rusby of Bridgewater was working in a potato house at Snow Road Farms when she was struck Wednesday afternoon. Workers found her unresponsive and an ambulance crew pronounced her dead at the scene.

State police Sgt. Josh Haines said the driver, Stephen Holmes, 47, of New Limerick, drove away without realizing what had happened.

State police, the state Medical Examiner’s Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.

LIMERICK

Deputy uses Taser on man, arrests him for stealing car

A Sanford man who allegedly was driving a stolen car was stopped with a Taser on Tuesday night by a York County sheriff’s deputy.

Stephen Rainville, 38, was charged with refusing to submit to arrest, driving with a revoked license and theft of a motor vehicle after being stopped by police on Elm Street in Limerick around 10:15 p.m.

Deputy Robert Carr said he saw Rainville speeding on Route 5. When he pulled Rainville over and ordered him to get on the ground, Rainville started to walk away. Carr Tasered Rainville to subdue him.

A passenger in the car, Robert Boyd, 42, of Manchester, was arrested on warrants for failure to pay fines for drunken driving and driving after license suspension. He was also charged with theft of a motor vehicle.

AUGUSTA

Mental-health employee arrested over child porn

Maine State Police say an Augusta man who works for the National Alliance for Mental Health and owns a martial arts studio in Lewiston was arrested after police said they found dozens of images of child pornography on his computer and believe that at least one of the children is from Maine.

Wade Hoover, 34, was arrested on Wednesday at his Augusta office where authorities said he had been using a personal computer to distribute child pornography over the agency’s Internet service.

Officials at the National Alliance on Mental Illness said they didn’t know their Internet connection was being used that way.

Hoover also runs Warrior’s Martial Arts studio and United Martial Arts Academy in Lewiston.

It’s unclear if he is being represented by an attorney.

UNITY

Troopers arrest local man in burglary of pharmacy

Maine State Police have made an arrest in a pharmacy burglary in Unity.

Police said Douglas Pagliaroli, 42, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at his home on charges of breaking into the Unity Pharmacy early Sunday morning. Troopers planned to search his home for stolen prescription drugs.

Police identified Pagliaroli from surveillance photos taken inside the pharmacy.

He was taken to the Waldo County Hospital for a medical evaluation before being transported to the Waldo County Jail.

FORT KENT

Fire destroys car dealership; fire marshal investigating

Officials say a fire destroyed a car dealership in downtown Fort Kent.

Firefighters responded to the fire at Valley Auto GMC on West Main Street around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Two employees who were in the building’s attic reported hearing crackling sounds.

The Bangor Daily News reported that by 10:45 a.m. an excavator was tearing down the remains of the burning building. No one was injured.

The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Valley Auto employs about 20 salespeople and mechanics.

– From staff and news services