AUBURN – Todd Gamache was told Tuesday he must stay in jail until his murder trial in connection with the death of an 8-month-old girl he was baby-sitting.
Androscoggin County Superior Court Justice Thomas Delahanty II said at an afternoon hearing that the 23-year-old Auburn man’s three prior convictions for violating conditions of release would pose a “substantial risk to the integrity of the judicial process” if Gamache were freed on bail.
Maine law states judges are given discretion in granting bail, but Gamache’s criminal history was cited by prosecutors and convinced Delahanty of the dangers in doing that in this case, he said.
Gamache appeared in light blue jail clothes, his wrists and ankles shackled. After the 15-minute hearing, he was taken back to Androscoggin County Jail.
Assistant Attorney General Fernand Larochelle told Delahanty that Gamache has been convicted on two counts of theft. Also, a charge of drug possession and a charge of violation of condition of release are pending against the defendant, Larochelle said. Records showed Gamache served several days in jail for the release violations.
Delahanty denied Gamache bail at a hearing earlier this summer. At that time, a Maine State Police detective testified that Gamache had changed his story several times during interviews following the hospitalization of Emmy-Leigh Cole and her death two days later after she was removed from life-support.
As police confronted him with further evidence of the baby’s injuries, Gamache added to his story the number of times he dropped the child, including once in a bathtub and again in the living room of his girlfriend’s home in March. Gamache had moved into her Broad Street home in December and had been taking care of Cole for about 45 minutes while her mother was at cheerleading practice.
Delahanty allowed Gamache to return to court Wednesday to present additional evidence showing why he should be free on bail.
Gamache penned a 17-page letter documenting his life and personal history, Delahanty said. Gamache also included letters from three others, including athletic coaches.
After he was indicted by an Androscoggin County grand jury and arrested on the murder charge, Gamache told police that Cole’s death was “a tragic accident.”
A doctor specializing in child abuse told police Cole’s injuries were not consistent with any versions of Gamache’s story.
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