Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy, top left, presides Wednesday at Richard Hatt’s initial court appearance at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. Hatt, who is appearing by video from the Kennebec County Correctional Facility, faces a murder charge in the death Tuesday morning of Stephen Killam, 47, of Fairfield. Hatt, far right in top row, is appearing with lawyer RJ Pettis. Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman is seen lower left, while Kevin Bernier of Maine Pretrial Services is lower right. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA — A Clinton man accused of fatally shooting a man at a Waterville parking lot made his initial court appearance Wednesday.

Richard Hatt, 57, of Clinton during a video appearance Wednesday at his initial court appearance at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Richard Hatt, 57, allegedly shot Stephen Killam, 47, of Fairfield at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at a parking lot at Mount Joseph at Waterville, a rehabilitation and nursing center at 7 Highwood St., according to Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Hatt did not enter a plea Wednesday afternoon when he appeared by video at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. He is being held at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility, also in Augusta.

Hatt is to remain behind bars until a Harnish hearing can be held, likely by the end of the month, to determine if he should be held without bail, according to officials.

Lawyer RJ Pettis, acting as lawyer of the day Wednesday and standing in for lawyers who have been appointed to represent Hatt, said any argument on behalf of Hatt for bail would be reserved until the Harnish hearing.

The Killam family was grieving Wednesday. Jessica Killam, Stephen Killam’s sister, described her brother in a telephone interview as a loving, caring man who never hurt anyone.

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“He was a very kind, compassionate person who was a dad, a brother, a son and an uncle,” she said.

While weeping, Jessica Killam said her brother worked at Mount Joseph. She declined to comment further, saying the large Killam family was struggling with the loss.

Waterville police officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of multiple gunshots. Video provided by a neighborhood resident includes audio of what sounds like numerous gunshots.

Witnesses reported seeing a black Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck leaving. They gave police the license plate number, Moss said. Police were alerted to be on the lookout for the truck Tuesday morning, and just before 9 a.m., Chief Rusty Bell of the Clinton Police Department located the truck and Hatt in Clinton.

Bell said Tuesday night he had received a telephone call at home early Tuesday from the school resource officer, who told him schools were in lockout and that Hatt was being sought. Bell, who said he has known Hatt for years, thought the man might go to his sister’s residence on Battle Ridge in Clinton.

That is where Bell found Hatt, standing with his sister and her husband on her lawn. Hatt surrendered to Bell, who placed him under arrest.

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Clinton police Sgt. Roger Smith arrived and took Hatt to the Waterville Police Department, Bell said. Hatt was charged with murder, and later taken to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility.

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and evidence response technicians responded to the scene Tuesday morning to interview witnesses, process the scene and, with Waterville police detectives, investigate the circumstances of the shooting, according to Moss.

She said Killam’s body was to be taken to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was to be performed Wednesday.

Moss said Hatt and Killam knew each other.

Police tape prevents access Tuesday to Mount Joseph at Waterville at 7 Highwood St. Police say Richard Hatt, 57, of Clinton shot Stephen Killam, 47, of Fairfield at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at the parking lot of the rehabilitation and nursing center. Hatt made his initial court appearance in the case Wednesday at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy explained Wednesday to Hatt that he was charged with intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Killam.

Murphy said lawyers Thomas Carey and Liam Harrigan have been appointed to represent Hatt.

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Hatt, who is balding and has a gray beard, did not speak in court Wednesday, other than to acknowledge Murphy with a “yes” when asked if he understood the proceedings.

She explained to Hatt that the maximum sentence for murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole or release, while the minimum sentence is 25 years in prison.

An affidavit describing what probable cause police may have to charge Hatt with murder was not available Wednesday from the court.

Hatt’s criminal record in Maine includes numerous convictions since 1990, including several felony-level counts of burglary and theft, several misdemeanor-level charges of assault, a misdemeanor-level domestic violence assault and felony-level counts of tampering with a witness, criminal threatening and aggravated assault, according to the state Bureau of Identification.

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