Wrongful Arrest and Ineffective Counsel cases

I work as a self-employed housecleaner. I've been married for 41 years...to the same man! We've lived in Maine most of our lives. We have three sons. Two struggled with addiction to drugs. One is currently in recovery and doing well. The other has been incarcerated since 11-22-22, and hasn't had effective counsel. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that's the same as having no counsel at all.

Prior to being arrested, Shane's ex girlfriend misused the Protection order. She then called to report violations of it because he wrote to her about "something other than arranging visits with the children." I was supposed to supervise visits. She then summoned me, and succeeded on being granted one on me, by Judge Geoffrey Rushlau. The messages I sent were simple requests to see the children. She could have blocked our numbers.

My son, Shane, took a plea deal and was sentenced on November 8, 2023, almost a year after his arrest. The judge didn't see certain evidence in his case. The court-appointed attorney, Verne Paradie, had Judge Stephen Nelson mute me during sentencing when I tried to bring it to his attention. The evidence would have certainly been a mitigating factor, resulting in him receiving less jail time for shooting Justin Steggall, or an acquittal based on the alleged self-defense. You can find more information at my blog Dirty Decisions.

When I tried to send the evidence to Shane, it was sent back because it's a screenshot, and the prison doesn't allow that. They don't allow colored paper, photos, etc. In June of 2023 I asked the investigating officer, Lucas Hafford, to reopen the investigation but he said his investigation was thorough and complete. There's an individual who was present during the shooting, and she should be questioned, possibly arrested, and held responsible for any role she had in the shooting. If you live in the valley, you probably know who I'm talking about.

On appeal, an indigent defendant can ask for a specific attorney if the attorney does public defense. And I found one who appears willing to help; and I won't need to pay if that lawyer is appointed. I'm not doing this fundraiser only for Shane, but for me. I've spent a few thousand already, sending him $100 every month for over two years, for commissary. But I'm not doing it to be paid back for that. I'm doing it for my own defense!

I was arrested on July 10, 2024 while at my property in Saint Agatha, Maine...there on vacation. The officer, who had just been promoted to Corporal, didn't get a warrant, and failed to take my complaint about the man we share the home with. He had locked us out of the home on July 8, and sent me, Pete, and our oldest son Aaron, texts in the middle of the night on June 6, claiming to have been shot, supposedly by acquaintances of Aaron. It was a lie. He also wrote, minus the typos, "You'll shut up quick if a gun is pointed in your face." Despite that I told Maine State Corporal Ted Martin about this, he did not even issue a warning to the man!

I told Martin about the text message on July 8, and again on July 10 when he responded after I called the police because the tenant was upset because I had disconnected internet and cable tv weeks earlier. In the morning, he had put a dent in his car by throwing a cup at it, which I pointed out to Martin; and that evening yelled at his brother and I so violently as we stood in the driveway, that I was afraid to enter the home. Again Martin failed to take my complaint, and arrested me for Attempted Disorderly Conduct.

I'm raising money to pay the $2500 retainer which I've been quoted, and that's to get me out of the $300 fee to "file" the case. The State of Maine is asking this of me, and yet according to Judge Carrie Linthicum it is the State of Maine that is the victim. I'm looking for an attorney to file a lawsuit against Martin, and that will require another retainer in a much larger amount I'm sure. I've made a complaint regarding Corporal Martin, a simple one online. Tip: you don't get a chance to print out a summary after sending, so save it elsewhere before hitting send. I did receive a phone call from Officer Christopher Tupper of the Office of Professional Standards; he says he'll look into it.