AUGUSTA — The suspect in a March 5 robbery of a city convenience store is the same man convicted of felony murder in the April 24, 2007, shooting death of Franco-American singer Jean-Paul Poulain.
Corey Ross Swift, 27, whose address is listed as “transient” by police, was arrested Thursday on the robbery charge.
He had an initial hearing Friday at the Capital Judicial Center via video from the Kennebec County jail.
Judge Evert Fowle ordered Swift held in lieu of $20,000 bail, an amount requested by Assistant Attorney District Attorney Carrie James.
Swift could be seen on a courtroom television monitor.
He had a colorful tattoo on his right arm and right shoulder that was partly covered by an orange jail uniform.
James said the felony murder conviction was the extent of Swift’s criminal record.
Attorney David Geller, acting as lawyer of the day, waived arguing bail and asked that it be reviewable once counsel is appointed for Swift.
James, in arguing for conditions preventing Swift from using alcohol and illegal drugs while he was on bail, said she had information that Swift committed the robbery because he was “dope sick” and that a family member indicated Swift was using heroin.
The judge imposed those conditions.
Swift was 18 when he was charged in the killing of Poulain, which occurred in Poulain’s apartment on School Street in Augusta. Poulain, 62, lived long enough in the ambulance to identify the men who shot him. The triggerman was Mathew Loisel, then 21, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Swift pleaded guilty to felony murder, indicating that he participated in a felony –– robbery –– that resulted in a death and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Records of the state Department of Corrections indicate he was discharged from prison on Aug. 31, 2015. Swift had spent time in jail on that charge before his sentencing and he earned “meritorious good time” in prison under the state’s 2004 code.
According to Jody Breton, deputy commissioner of the Department of Corrections, Swift came into custody Jan. 30, 2008, and was discharged Aug. 31, 2015, from Charleston Correctional Facility.
Breton said via email that Swift would have earned good time under the 2004 code.
“Prisoners under this code earn seven days a month — three for work/programing and four for conduct. Prisoners can also earn an additional two days a month for any community-based programing during their last three years of incarceration.”
She said that initial notes indicated he was released Aug. 28, but later she saw records indicating it was actually Aug. 31.
In the March 5 robbery of the Augusta Quick Mart on Western Avenue, the suspect threatened but never displayed a firearm and left the store after he was unable to obtain any money, police said.
Swift was identified as a suspect after Augusta police released images of the robbery from surveillance cameras and then received tips from the public.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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