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AUBURN — A Mechanic Falls man charged with attempted murder of a county deputy at a Minot home denied those allegations Friday, as well as other charges stemming from a February incident.

Corey Hamel submitted photo

Corey Hamel, 43, pleaded not guilty to five felony charges in Androscoggin County Superior Court by videoconference from York County Jail, where he is being held without bail pending a probation revocation hearing. His bail on the new charges was set at $1 million.

Hamel faces charges of aggravated attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and elevated aggravated assault, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

He also was charged with theft of a firearm by unauthorized taking, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Charges of reckless conduct with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon are each punishable by up to five years in prison each.

An Androscoggin County grand jury handed up an indictment including the charges in May.

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Defense Attorney Justin Leary said he planned to have Hamel undergo a private psychological evaluation.

The court ordered a competency evaluation of Hamel last spring as well as an evaluation of Hamel’s mental state at the time of the alleged crime.

Deputies from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance complaint at a home at 1089 Woodman Hill Road in Minot about 4 a.m. on Feb. 14.

One of the officers, Sgt. Randy Williams, was shot in the upper right leg by gunfire leveled at several vehicles in the driveway, authorities said.

Hamel, a carpenter, was staying in the home of his boss, James Harlow.

Hamel had argued with his wife, Tiffany Morin, earlier in the night and had gone to the bedroom of Harlow’s wife, Trudy, police said.

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Trudy Harlow told police later that Morin had barged into her bedroom around 3:30 a.m., saying Hamel pointed a gun at her head and was going to shoot her.

Morin told police Hamel tried to get into the bedroom, then she saw smoke in the kitchen, police said.

Morin and the Harlows left the home through a back door.

James Harlow told police he wasn’t sure whether the popping sound he heard was gunshots, but was worried Hamel had shot at or might shoot at the women.

Outside, Harlow was moving some vehicles when he saw a male and female deputy trying to move people away from the fire.

Harlow said he heard Hamel yell: “Happy Valentine’s Day, motherf—-rs” and walked into the driveway. Hamel then fired multiple rounds and the male deputy was struck, police said.

Harlow attempted to retrieve his 9 mm from a truck, but the holster was empty, he told police. Hamel had known Harlow kept a gun there, Harlow said.

Chris Williams covers courts and daytime crime at the Sun Journal where he has been a staff writer for more than two decades. He reports on local, state and federal courts as well as spot news, crashes,...