Kennebec & Somerset District Attorney’s Office

06/12/2026

https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/windsor-man-pleads-guilty-illegally-possessing-firearm

Shawn Merrill, 40, faces up to 15 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release.

06/11/2026

On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at approximately 6:30 am, School Resource Officer Deputy Mike Pike was notified of a burglary that occurred at the Madison Middle School on Main Street in Madison. Deputy Pike responded and found the school had been broken into through a window in one of the classrooms. Extensive damage was done to the window and several items were found to be missing.

Detective David Cole and Deputy Adam Estabrook responded to assist in the investigation. As a result of the investigation, a suspect was identified. At approximately 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Detective Cole and Deputy Estabrook made contact with the suspect who was identified as Adam Nichols, age 30, of Madison. Nichols admitted to breaking into the school. The majority of the stolen property was recovered. The investigation is ongoing to recover the remaining stolen property.

Nichols was arrested and charged with Burglary (Class C), Aggravated Criminal Mischief (Class C), and Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer (Class C). The Criminal Mischief charge is aggravated due to the amount of damage, and the Theft charge is a felony due to the value of the stolen property.

Nichols' bail has been set at $250.00 unsecured with the condition that he be supervised under the Somerset County Community Corrections Program (SCCCP). Nichols remains incarcerated at the Somerset County Jail. Nichols' initial Court appearance is scheduled for August 5, 2026, at 8:30 am at the Somerset County Unified Criminal Court. Sheriff Lancaster

06/08/2026

Somerset sheriff, DA seek proposals to spend $40K from cannabis grow cases

Authorities want the money, which 4 of those convicted paid as part of their recent plea deals, to help projects focused on youth and community.

06/05/2026

Congratulations to all the graduates from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Today was graduation day and we look forward to working with all our new police officers in District 4, Kennebec and Somerset Counties!

06/04/2026

The law enforcement torch run for Special Olympics is running through our area today. You will see runners on 201 and 202. Please slow down and give them space (and cheers!) and thank you for your support of this important event going on all over Maine this week.

05/30/2026

Important work being done by our law enforcement partners in District 4!

MDEA PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: COMMANDER BRANDON VAFIADES (207) 941-4732


WINTHROP, MAINE - The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announces the arrest of man from the Dominican Republic following a month’s long drug trafficking investigation.

Arrested:

Jorge Luis Franco Mejia (31) of the Dominican Republic – Class A Aggravated Trafficking Schedule W Drugs Co***ne HCl and Fentanyl. Bail set at $100,000.

On Thursday afternoon, May 28, 2026, Agents assigned to the Maine Drug Enforcements South Central District Task Force executed a search warrant at a Winthrop motel. The search warrant was based on a month’s long investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl and co***ne, which included undercover purchases of fentanyl and co***ne.

As a result of the search warrant, agents located and seized 180ggw (gross gram weight) of co***ne, 20ggw of fentanyl and $1660.00 in suspected drug proceeds. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $20,000. Franco Mejia was taken into custody without incident.

More arrests and charges are expected based on this investigation.

Booking photos are available from Kennebec County Jail.

Maine Drug Enforcement’s South Central Task Force was assisted by the Winthrop Police Department and a Maine State Police K-9 Unit.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl, co***ne and methamphetamine in the State of Maine.

If you or someone you know suffers from substance, use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.

If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.

05/26/2026

This is an amazing team and we thank you for all your efforts!

05/25/2026

We hope everyone has had a great Memorial Day weekend and we remember the fallen and all who have given everything for our great nation. 🇺🇸

05/16/2026

We send our condolences 💐 to the firefighters family and friends. RIP sir.

Fallen Morrill Firefighter Andrew Cross was honored with a procession Saturday morning, a day after he died in an explosion at the Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont. Click the following link to see video of the procession: https://www.wmtw.com/article/honorable-transfer-to-be-held-saturday-morning-for-firefighter-killed-in-searsmont-fire/71324777