Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

NOT GUILTY PLEAS IN ATTACKS

BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- The man accused in a Pittston home invasion that left a father and daughter seriously injured two months ago pleaded not guilty Tuesday to all eight charges stemming from that event.

Leo R. Hylton, 18, of Augusta, was in Kennebec County Superior Court for less than five minutes to be arraigned and enter pleas.

He is charged with four counts of aggravated attempted murder and one count each of attempted murder, robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Hylton is the only man charged in the May 27 home invasion that left William Guerrette Jr., 48, and his daughter, Nicole, 11, hospitalized with machete injuries. Both have since been released from the hospital.

The aggravated attempted murder charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Details of the police investigation are sealed by order of the court. However, Justice Nancy Mills agreed Tuesday to lift the impoundment order only as far as allowing the state to share discovery materials with Hylton's defense attorney, Robert Ruffner.

Bail for Hylton continues as $1 million cash.

Hylton, wearing a yellow two-piece Cumberland County jail uniform, responded with a quiet "not guilty" eight times as Mills asked him for his plea to each charge.

Ruffner said afterward that the judge granted an extended period -- 60 days -- for him to file pleadings and that he expected the case to be back in court in the fall.

"The state told me they have not completed all their testing and forensics examination," he said.

District Attorney Evert Fowle said earlier two of the aggravated attempted murder charges carry the element of premeditation; the other two he said, are on evidence of "extreme cruelty."

The two injured Guerrettes are named as the victims in the aggravated attempted murder charges.

Named as victims in the attempted murder charge are the three other Guerrette family members who were inside the home at the time of the home invasion: William Guerrette's wife, Melanie; and two other children, Ryan Guerrette, 19, and Ashley Guerrette, 15.

"My instinct is telling me there is a lot of gray area to what happened that day, and the severity of the charges leaves a lot that can be discussed and argued about," Ruffner said. "The state has basically charged the most severe form of attempted murder and by having additional elements, they have to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt."

Fowle and other authorities have said Hylton's roommate and foster brother, Daniel Fortune, 20, is "a potential suspect" in the home invasion case.

Fortune is being held in Kennebec County jail on charges connected to a Nov. 17 theft of more than $111,000 from the Guerrette home. He was in Kennebec County Superior Court later Tuesday morning for a status conference in the theft case.

The injured Guerrettes suffered wounds to the head and arms. Both have been released from the hospital and are undergoing rehabilitation and therapy.

In an interview last week, the two had deep scars on their faces and hands.

One of William Guerrette's fingers was severed in the attack, and one of his eyes won't close completely because the machete blade sliced an eye muscle.

Guerrette is a businessman and former state legislator.

Nicole wears a helmet to protect a soft spot on her head where her skull bone was fractured and later removed after infection set in.

The father said he recalls little about the night of the attack. And the family said they no longer feel safe.

The community has rallied around the Guerrettes and a benefit performance by the Blake Brothers Band and popular comedian Bob Marley is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at Gardiner Area High School.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com