AUGUSTA — A Readfield man who told authorities he set fire to his house, barn and camper because God told him to do so has been indicted on arson and animal cruelty charges.
Joseph E. McLaughlin was one of two people who, in separate incidents, allegedly set fire to their own residences, in Readfield and Clinton, respectively, who were indicted on felony arson charges by a grand jury this month.
McLaughlin, 38, of Readfield, told investigators he lit fire to clothes and pillows in his Cherrywood Lane house, then moved to the barn where he set fire to a paper bag in the trash, and then lit a match to numerous items in his camper.
He also allegedly locked his dog in the camper and told authorities he recalled hearing the dog cry and whine until the camper was on fire. The dog was later rescued.
The Jan. 17 fires destroyed the house, barn and camper that he owned.
He told authorities he started the fires because God directed him to, because “they were starting over so he needed to clear the land to do this,” according to court documents.
McLaughlin added that he did not intend to hurt anyone in the fires, but also admitted he would burn down the white house across the road if it were empty, as he believed the occupant to be a witch who had placed a curse on him when he first moved in.
Members of the Winthrop Police Department and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office found McLaughlin on the property when they responded to the fire. He was placed in protective custody and later transferred to a hospital to be examined for hypothermia and to receive a mental health evaluation.
McLaughlin was indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury March 20 on Class A arson and Class C aggravated cruelty to animals charges, both felonies.
Also indicted on a Class A felony arson charge by the county grand jury this month was Jamie M. Perry, 30, of Waterville, for allegedly starting a fire Jan. 24 at Roderick Apartments on Roderick Road in Clinton.
Firefighters responded to 12 Roderick Road after a tenant of the multiunit apartment building there called 911 to report the smell of smoke coming from an upstairs unit.
Firefighters found a fire in Perry’s apartment and extinguished it. The fire caused moderate damage and tenants in the building, which had working smoke detectors, all got out safely, officials said.
Investigators determined the fire started in a kitchen stove in the apartment, and that it had been intentionally set.
A Clinton police officer found footprints in freshly fallen snow leading away from the apartment and found Perry, covered in a blanket, lying on the ground on nearby Lyndsey Lane. Perry reportedly told investigators she had started the fire because of a dispute with her landlord.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt but an acknowledgement that enough evidence exists for a case to move forward toward trial. Others indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury which met March 20 were:
• Chantel M. Blount, 36, of Auburn, theft by unauthorized taking, July 6, 2023, in Waterville.
• Matthew Adam Cole, 34, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking, Sept. 17, 2023, in Waterville.
• Ryan Cook, 36, of Vassalboro, domestic violence assault, Jan. 23 in Vassalboro.
• Autumn E. Cram, 35, of Skowhegan, theft by unauthorized taking, on or between Sept. 6 and Sept. 28, 2023, in Augusta.
• Brandon G. Cross, 31, of Windsor, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), and violation of condition of release, Dec. 30, 2023, in Augusta.
• Jonathan D. Cross, 33, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking, and violation of condition of release, Dec. 4, 2023, in Augusta.
• Robin A. Dennett, 61, of Augusta, aggravated criminal mischief, operating after suspension, and violation of condition of release, Nov. 22, 2023, in Augusta.
• Robert L. Desjardins III, 32, of Augusta, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (heroin and/or fentanyl powder), and aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine base), Feb. 6 in Augusta.
• Benjamin R. Duffany, 44, of Augusta, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon stealing drugs, theft by unauthorized taking, refusing to submit to arrest, and violation of condition of release, Nov. 9, 2023, in Augusta.
• David M. Graham, 32, of Bangor, burglary, theft by unauthorized taking, and criminal mischief, Jan. 4 in Manchester.
• Damion Evan Sidelinger Hanson, 29, of Winthrop, tampering with a victim, and violation of condition of release, on or between Dec. 1, 2023, and Feb. 6, 2024, in Augusta.
• Patrick C. Heald, 29, of West Gardiner, domestic violence assault, Oct. 28, 2023, in West Gardiner, and violation of condition of release, Jan. 12, in West Gardiner.
• Jason A. Humphrey, 23, of Waterville, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, on or between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2023, in Waterville.
• Dasuan C. Jacobs, 26, of Boston, two counts of aggravated criminal mischief, criminal speed, failure to stop for an officer, and operating without a license, Dec. 2, 2023, in Chelsea.
• Lawrence R, Knowles, 57, of Norridgewock, eluding an officer, passing a roadblock, unauthorized use of property, and driving to endanger, Dec. 17, 2023, in Sidney.
• Denis P. Lemieux, 35, of Waterville, two counts of terrorizing, two counts of violation of a protective order, and domestic violence terrorizing, Jan. 25 in Oakland.
• Burleigh D. Lewis, 43, of Woolwich, aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, and criminal operating under the influence, Sept. 7, 2023, in Waterville.
• Ashley Linn Loisel, 30, of Smithfield, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl), and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), Jan. 2 in Waterville.
• Anthony T. MacMaster, 41, of Randolph, domestic violence terrorizing, and aggravated criminal mischief, on or between Jan. 27 and Jan. 28, in Randolph.
• David Maldonado, 29, of New York City, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), violation of condition of release, and criminal forfeiture of $23,388, Jan. 12 in Farmingdale.
• Daniel W. Mansir, 25, of Farmingdale, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, and violation of condition of release, Jan. 10 in Augusta.
• Kelly Ann Marin, 37, of Waterville, violation of condition of release, Feb. 13 in Waterville.
• Bridget E. Martin, 28, of Wells, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Dec. 19, 2023, in Augusta.
• Becky M. Mercure, 32, of Unity Township, operating after revocation, and violation of condition of release, Dec. 2, 2023, in Winslow.
• Randall Moulton, 31, of St. Albans, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, Nov. 3, 2023, in Waterville.
• Gene L. Northup, 58, of Farmingdale, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine), Jan. 12 in Farmingdale.
• Marissa F. Ouellette, 38, of Ellsworth, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing methamphetamine), and violation of condition of release, Jan. 29 in Augusta.
• Bruce R. Obert, 69, of Norridgewock, assault on an officer, refusing to submit to arrest, and failure to stop for an officer, Sept. 20, 2023, in Waterville.
• David M. Orrall, 64, of Litchfield, criminal operating under the influence, Oct. 20, 2023, in West Gardiner.
• Rashard M. Perkins, 39, of Augusta, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing heroin), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (heroin), and criminal forfeiture of $470, July 2, 2023, in Augusta.
• Jason A. Pratt, 46, of Hallowell, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine or cocaine base), Aug. 13, 2023, in Augusta.
• Matthew M. Raymond, 33, of Clinton, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs (cocaine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (fentanyl powder), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (methamphetamine), violation of condition of release, and criminal forfeiture of $597, Dec. 4, 2023, in Clinton; and theft by unauthorized taking, violation of condition of release, aggravated criminal mischief, and violation of condition of release, Jan. 28, in Clinton; and aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (cocaine), unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing cocaine), and violation of condition of release, Jan. 6 in Benton.
• Joseph T. Santerre, 37, of Waterville, two counts of domestic violence assault, Nov. 16, 2023, in Waterville.
• Jermaine M. Seawright, 43, of Augusta, domestic violence aggravated assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, domestic violence assault, and refusing to submit to arrest, Feb. 3 in Augusta.
• William C. Smith, 30, of Mount Vernon, solicitation of child for commercial sexual exploitation, Jan. 4 in Readfield, and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, on or between Jan. 4 and Jan. 12, in Kennebec County.
• Meghan A. Stambaugh, 46, of Waldoboro, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (containing fentanyl powder), Jan. 4 in Windsor.
• Zachary M. Still, 30, of Waterville, unlawful sexual contact, Jan. 2 in Waterville.
• Chad Ryan Stone, 42, of Mechanic Falls, operating after revocation, and driving to endanger, Nov. 27, 2023, in Augusta.
• Richard J. Stoner, 45, of Waterville, operating after revocation, Nov. 30, 2023, in China.
• Joshua L. Tilley, 41, of Litchfield, two counts of kidnapping, violation of a protective order, domestic violence assault, and domestic violence criminal threatening, Sept. 23, 2023, in Chelsea.
• Andrew S. Truman, 29, of Chelsea, aggravated criminal mischief, violation of condition of release, and failure to report accident, June 1, 2023, in Randolph.
• Tyler A. Wilson, 26, of Augusta, violation of condition of release, Dec. 5, 2023, in Waterville.
• Nicholas Ray Withee, 35, of Clinton, violation of condition of release, Jan. 28, in Waterville.
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