AUGUSTA — Four people, including a mother and her son from Winthrop, have been indicted on charges they unlawfully obtained welfare benefits.

The indictments were among a number handed up Friday by a grand jury in Kennebec County sitting at the Capital Judicial Center. An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it indicates that there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.

Stephanie J. Williams, 41, and Kyle D. Caret, 21, are each charged with theft by deception, misuse of a public benefits instrument and trafficking in benefits Oct. 17-18, 2014, in Kennebec County.

According to the indictment, Williams gave the false impression that Caret’s Electronic Benefit Transfer card was being used to buy food and other authorized items for the benefit of Caret or his family. The indictment says she obtained control over the card without authorization from the state and that she exchanged the card for such things as “reimbursement for household bills or other debts.”

Williams faces three misdemeanor charges. Caret faces one felony theft charge because he has prior theft-related convictions.

The indictment against Caret says he gave the false impression that his food stamp benefits were being used for his family when they were not and that he transferred his card without authorization and that it was used for reimbursement for household bills.

In the other cases, Nina Maraglia, 36, formerly of Augusta and now of Norridgewock, was indicted on charges she stole more than $10,000 in food stamps, emergency assistance and MaineCare program benefits between June 2010 and March 2013.

The indictment says she failed to disclose that she was working and earning income.

Robert Vear, 57, of Waterville, was indicted on charges that accuse him of stealing more than $10,000 in food stamp benefits from May 2009 to February 2015 by indicating on applications that his wife was not living in his household and/or not contributing financially to it. The indictment said that impression was false.

Vear also is accused of unsworn falsification that allegedly occurred on April 4, 2013, and April 5, 2014, all in Kennebec County.

A number of other people were indicted Friday:

• Michelle A. Arbour, 38, of Augusta, forgery and theft by unauthorized taking from June 1 to July 31, 2014, in Monmouth.

• Eric C. Bachand, 20, of Rome, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon, violation of condition of release and operating after suspension, all March 21 in Waterville.

• Nathan Stanley Bernheisel, 25, of West Gardiner, unlawful furnishing of heroin and unlawful possession of cocaine and/or cocaine base Feb. 2 in Augusta.

• Amber L. Bloss, 29, of Lewiston, assault on an officer, assault, theft by unauthorized taking and criminal trespass Feb. 18 in Augusta.

• Benjamin K. Boulay, 27, of Greene, theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release from Sept. 21 to Oct. 28, 2014, in Gardiner.

• Christopher J. Corliss, 37, of Augusta, aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and aggravated criminal mischief Dec. 10, 2014, in Manchester.

• Colton Crane, 26, of Orland, and Jennifer Grice, 27, of Bucksport, were each indicted on one count of aggravated trafficking in heroin and unlawful trafficking in cocaine. Grice also was indicted on a charge of violation of conditions of release. According to the indictments, all the offenses occurred March 27 in West Gardiner.

• Cory J. Dionne, 25, and Sara R. Negrete, 32, of Chelsea, were indicted on charges of robbery, aggravated assault and theft by unauthorized taking that occurred May 25, 2014, in Augusta.

Dionne also was indicted on charges of aggravated trafficking in heroin and unlawful possession of heroin March 25 in Augusta and was subject to criminal forfeiture of $746, which was seized that day.

• Levar A. Green, 38, of Waterville, aggravated assault, domestic violence assault, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, violation of a protective order and obstructing report of a crime or injury, all Sept. 12, 2014, in Waterville.

• Randy R. Marquis, 42, of Augusta, three counts of possession of sexually explicit materials of children under 12 Jan. 16 in Augusta.

• Taquan Washington, 28, of Westbrook, aggravated trafficking in cocaine base and aggravated trafficking in heroin March 26 in Augusta.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams