Wednesday, May 16, 2012
BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- A man accused in a Pittston home invasion could face life in prison if convicted of charges handed up Thursday by a Kennebec County grand jury.
Leo R. Hylton, 18, of Augusta was indicted Thursday on four counts of aggravated attempted murder.
In two of those charges, Hylton is accused of acting with premeditation in machete attacks on William Guerrette Jr., 48, and Nicole Guerrette, 10. The two were hospitalized in critical condition for weeks after the attacks, which occurred inside the Guerrette home in the early morning of May 27.
Two other aggravated attempted murder charges accuse Hylton of acting with extreme cruelty. "We believe the evidence supports a conclusion that extreme cruelty was inflicted," said District Attorney Evert Fowle.
Fowle said the crime of aggravated attempted murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
"This is the one crime short of homicide in the state where, on a first offense, the maximum allowable penalty is life in prison," Fowle said.
Hylton faces a total of eight charges. His attorney said he would enter pleas of not guilty to all of them.
In addition to the four counts of aggravated attempted murder, Hylton faces a charge of attempted murder in connection with the threat to other people in the home that morning: William Guerrette's wife, Melanie Guerrette; and the Guerrettes' other children, Ryan and Ashley.
He also faces one count each of robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with the May 27 home invasion.
No other person has been indicted in connection with the home invasion. Fowle and other authorities have said Hylton's roommate and foster brother, Daniel Fortune, 20, is "a potential suspect."
Fortune is jailed and facing charges connected to the Nov. 17, 2007, theft of more than $111,000 from the Guerrette home.
Hylton has been in court twice since he was arrested and is being held in the Guerrette case in lieu of $1 million bail. Fowle said he will request that bail remain.
He is also being held without bail on a charge of violating conditions of release. He was out on bail on a theft charge from Augusta at the time of the home invasion.
Robert Ruffner, Hylton's attorney, said Hylton intends to enter a plea of not guilty when he is arraigned on the charges.
"I expect that the evidence at the trial will be far different than it appears in the indictment," he said Thursday night.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it is an indication that sufficient evidence is present to proceed with formal charges and a trial in superior court.
William Guerrette remains hospitalized and is improving, and Nicole Guerrette has been released from the hospital, Fowle said Thursday.
Authorities have said the attack was particularly violent, and fear coursed through the rural town of Pittston when news of the attack became public. Many residents heard the helicopters brought in to carry the father and daughter to trauma centers.
Details of the crime have been sealed by the court at the request of the state.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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