AUGUSTA — A Clinton man pleaded not guilty to murder Friday in the shooting death of another Clinton man who was his neighbor.

James Simonson, 66, was taken into custody shortly before 3:30 p.m. Thursday by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central, Maj. Aaron Turcotte of the Maine State Police said in a news release. Simonson was also charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with a shooting that took place on June 20 or 21, 2025, on Main Street in Clinton.

Simonson is accused of shooting and killing William “Bill” Parent, 67, also of Clinton.

Simonson denied that accusationFriday, pleading not guilty to both charges at the Capital Judicial Center. He claimed he acted in self-defense.

“I don’t want to rot in this jail for nothing,” an agitated Simonson said via video feed from Kennebec County jail after Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy heard his not guilty pleas . “For defending myself, when someone comes and tries to kill me? [Expletive] that.”

No details about any altercation between the men were available Friday. Simonson was indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury on the two charges Wednesday.The indictment states he used a Ruger .22LR takedown semi-automatic rifle.

In early October 2025, police discovered human remains in a field off Route 100 in Clinton. Both Clinton and Maine State Police were seen near a home on Main Street, also Route 11, near the Benton town line. The remains were taken to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. Turcotte said the autopsy determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide.

At the time of the discovery of the remains, Darcy Williams, Parent’s niece, said Parent had lived for about 20 years in a trailer on property abutting the 774 Main St. property where Clinton and state police converged.

Court documents list Simonson’s address as 774 Main St.

William has said she and Parent were very close, and she saw him regularly as she took him to doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping and other places. So when he disappeared in June of 2025, the family became very concerned.

She described Parent as a sweet, kind man with a sense of humor who loved Elvis Presley and often sang his songs in public. He was disabled and could be difficult at times because he had some mental illness, but he always returned to his better self, Williams said.

Simonson is being held at Kennebec County jail, without bail.

Prosecutor Mark Rucci, an assistant attorney general, asked that Simonson continue to be held without bail.

Lisa Whittier, representing Simonson at his initial appearance and arraignment, did not oppose that motion Friday and said she was not seeking a bail hearing at this point.

Murphy said attorney Daniel Wentworth would be appointed to represent Simonson longer term.

Simonson’s criminal record is extensive, with his most recent conviction in 2022 on a charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. According to the state Bureau of Identification, his criminal record, dating to 1979, includes prior convictions for multiple counts of assault, drug possession, drug trafficking, theft, burglary, violation of protection order and forgery, as well as single counts of arson and refusing to submit to arrest.

The possession of a firearm by a prohibited person charge, Murphy said in court, stems from a previous conviction against Simonson on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.