AUGUSTA — Manslaughter, attempted murder and aggravated assault charges involving injuries are among the charges listed in indictments handed up Thursday by a grand jury in Kennebec County.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it indicates that there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.

Alexander J. Biddle, 23, of Pittston, was indicted on a manslaughter charge in connection with an all-terrain vehicle accident in which 18-year-old Halee Cummings, of Sidney, was killed. The charge says Biddle “did recklessly or with criminal negligence cause the death” of Cummings.

Biddle was driving a Polaris 850 ATV late on Sept. 18, 2015, on Shepard Road in Sidney when it went off the side of a gravel driveway and into a ditch at apparently high speed, striking several trees and ejecting Cummings before rolling over onto Biddle, according to the Maine Warden Service, which investigated the accident.

Biddle initially was summoned on the charge and appeared in court in October 2016.

At that time, his attorney, Pasquale Perrino, said, “Quite frankly, I was not anticipating anything (criminal). Our position it was simply a terrible accident. It’s an absolute tragedy.”

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The crash occurred not far from Cummings’ home just off Middle Road.

Biddle remains free on bail.

Jeremy A. Clement, 36, of Fairfield, is accused of attempting to murder his former girlfriend, who was staying at her mother’s home in Oakland. Police say Clement shot Jasmine Caret on April 19, 2017, after kicking in the door of the Oakland home.

The indictment also includes charges of elevated aggravated assault, again naming Caret as the victim; burglary; and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

It cites Clement’s previous domestic violence conviction on Sept. 18, 2009, in Skowhegan.

Clement remains at the Kennebec County jail. He was at the Capital Judicial Center on July 13 for a brief hearing at which a prosecutor indicated the case would be going to the grand jury.

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Caret watched the proceeding, saying she was still dealing with injuries resulting from being shot in the chest.

Dreaquan L. Foster, 22, of Providence, Rhode Island, was indicted on charges related to a home invasion March 12, 2017, in Sidney, where police say he was kicking down a door to get to the 84-year-old resident who had taken refuge in a bedroom. The woman’s son, who lived nearby, arrived in response to a call for help from his mother and shot Foster in a struggle.

Foster faces charges of elevated aggravated assault for allegedly hitting the homeowner’s son, Eric Hewett, on the head with a hammer; aggravated criminal mischief; burglary; theft by unauthorized use of property, for taking a vehicle without consent; and three counts of criminal mischief.

Police said Foster abandoned a vehicle that day on Interstate 95 and walked to the woman’s Lyons Road home.

Foster remains at the Kennebec County jail.

Dakota L. Brann, 20, of Augusta, faces charges connected to an incident in which he allegedly drove his sport utility vehicle into two people on April 11, 2017, in Gardiner.

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He was indicted on two counts of elevated aggravated assault and two of aggravated assault, which say he caused serious injuries to two people with his vehicle, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury.

Brann remains at the Kennebec County jail.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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