AUGUSTA — Roland L. Cummings, who is accused of killing a Waterville man, told police his DNA was found on the man’s pants because he had robbed him weeks earlier, not because he was involved in the slaying.
Cummings pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of murder, burglary and theft in the stabbing death of Aurele Fecteau, 92, in his home.
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Cummings, 44, of Waterville, who previously did odd jobs for Fecteau, was arrested after police matched his DNA to that found on the turned-out pockets of pants found on Fecteau’s floor.
Cummings told detectives that he visited Fecteau at his home several weeks before, used the bathroom, then stole $2 he found when he rifled through Fecteau’s pants, according to an affidavit filed by Maine State Police Detective Abbe Chabot.
Cummings gave police a DNA sample on May 24, telling them, “I have nothing to hide,” according to the affidavit.
On Wednesday, Cummings spoke with his attorneys Ronald Bourget and Darrick Banda before the brief hearing in Kennebec County Superior Court. It was Cummings’ second court appearance. On June 9, Justice Michaela Murphy read him the charge of murder and ordered him held without bail, but he did not enter a plea.
On Wednesday, Murphy read Cummings the charges from the four-count indictment handed up Friday by a grand jury in Kennebec County. Murphy warned Cummings that a murder conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Cummings said not guilty clearly four times when asked how he pleaded to the charge of intentional, knowing or depraved indifference murder, burglary of a dwelling, burglary, and theft. He stood for the entire arraignment, his hands shackled to a belt at his waist, and flanked by the defense attorneys.
Murphy said attorneys have agreed to a conference of counsel Aug. 12 and a specialty bail hearing at some point after that. The state has requested the bail hearing to extinguish Cummings’ right to bail. In the meantime, Murphy ordered Cummings held without bail.
Deputy Attorney General William Stokes, the prosecutor, said he expected to send discovery in the case to the defense; however, he said some results of DNA analysis might not be available until after that date.
Defense attorney Bourget said they need the state to turn over more evidence.
“At this stage, we have a lot of confidence in our case, but we clearly need more discovery,” Bourget said after Wednesday’s hearing, but wouldn’t comment further.
There was no one in the courtroom Wednesday from the victim’s family. Stokes said they had been informed about the arraignment and told it would be a very short hearing, and they opted not to come.
Fecteau was found dead in his home at 33 Brooklyn Ave., Waterville, on May 23 by his son, Ernest Fecteau, and daughter-in-law.
Police also found evidence of a break-in and jewelry was missing, according to the affidavit.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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