LEWISTON — Two 14-year-olds facing several felony charges stemming from a Sept. 12 bucket loader spree through Sabattus, Lewiston and down Interstate 95 to New Gloucester will stay in state custody for now.

Shawn Demarest of Litchfield and Matthew Newton-Fortin of Auburn face an identical list of eight charges, including attempted elevated aggravated assault, aggravated criminal mischief, attempted aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and theft by unauthorized taking of the $10,000 bucket loader.

All would be felony charges in adult court, according to District Court Judge Rick Lawrence.

The two teens had preliminary hearings Tuesday afternoon in Lewiston District Court, one after the other. 

Lawrence agreed to keep both boys in state custody for now and to set hearing dates for both. Newton-Fortin’s next appearance will be Oct. 11; Demarest will be back in court on Nov. 11.

Both are staying at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, but their families and attorneys can look for different places to keep them.

“We are obviously trying to get them out, and we do have a right to release,” said attorney Chris Northrop, who is supervising Demarest’s case. “If we find something that the (Juvenile Community Corrections Office) agrees is safe and therapeutic, we will grab it if we can.”

Demarest is being represented by Cailley Bonti, a law student working with the University of Maine School of Law’s Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic.

Bonti said she chose to deny the state’s claims.

“We did that so we have time to review everything from here on out,” Bonti said. “Other than that, we are new to the case. We’ve just received our discovery on the case.”

Attorney Richard Charest, representing Newton-Forton, chose to wait to enter a plea for his client.

“Strategically, I did not enter an answer because my client is just not ready to enter an answer,” Charest said.

According to the petition of charges filed in court on Monday, police believe the youths commandeered the bucket loader just after midnight Monday, Sept. 12, from West Gardiner. The loader belonged to Wyman and Simpson Inc. general contractors in Richmond, according to the petition.

From West Gardiner, the pair allegedly drove the loader through Sabattus, running over an $8,000 sign in front of Fielder’s Choice Homemade Ice Cream as well as mailboxes, parked cars, street signs and fire hydrants throughout Sabattus.

They allegedly continued south through Lewiston, onto the Maine Turnpike and crossed the median into the northbound lanes, colliding with a police car and a private vehicle before Lewiston officers shot out the loader’s tires near the New Gloucester barrier toll.

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