LEWISTON — A Buckfield man who led police on a car and foot chase Wednesday, during which he was found with bricks of cocaine, later told investigators he made his new drug connection while in prison.
Joshua Morin, 32, appeared in court Friday on felony drug charges: aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, a Class A crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and unlawful possession, a Class B crime that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
He also faces possible criminal forfeiture of more than $20,000 of suspected drug money.
He didn’t enter pleas to the charges Friday because they are felonies.
Eighth District Court Judge Geoffrey Rushlau set Morin’s bail Friday at $100,000 cash, which only he is allowed to post. Rushlau called Morin’s criminal history that includes felony convictions for burglary, theft, escape and drug trafficking “very extensive.”
He was appointed a defense attorney at the court’s expense. After meeting with Morin, that attorney may seek lower bail for him, Rushlau said.
If freed from Androscoggin County Jail, Morin must not possess any illegal drugs and can be searched and tested at random for them, Rushlau said.
In a sworn statement, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Zachary Provost wrote that the car chase originated by Oxford County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic infraction turned into a lengthy chase into Androscoggin County before ending in Greene, where Morin swerved his Nissan sedan to avoid a spike mat and drove into a ditch.
He fled on foot at the intersection of North Hatch Hill and Sawyer roads with two Saran-wrapped packages tucked under his arm containing a “hard chunk substance” later identified as cocaine. In the back of Morin’s car, Provost could see two more packages similar to those Morin had carried. One of them appeared to be cocaine, the other, a stack of cash wrapped in clear plastic containing more than $20,000.
The three packages that tested positive as cocaine weighed more than 1,600 grams with an estimated street value of $160,000.
Provost interviewed Morin after he was read his rights.
He said he had been released from prison in April from a five-year sentence for probation revocation and drug trafficking. He said he had met someone in prison who had put him in contact with a supply source from Connecticut who had recently given Morin 2 kilograms of cocaine.
Morin told investigators “that he was one of the biggest dealers around” and that “most people in the area would come to him and purchase ounce and half-ounce” amounts, Provost wrote in his affidavit.
The felony charges against Morin are expected to be presented to a grand jury for indictment. He is scheduled to be back in court in May.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
Joshua Morin of Buckfield speaks to his attorney, Heidi Pushard, during his initial appearance in Lewiston District Court on Friday. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)
Joshua Morin of Buckfield looks toward acquaintances during his initial appearance in Lewiston District Court on Friday. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)
Joshua Morin of Buckfield is examined by an EMS technician before he’s taken into custody on Wednesday on North Hatch Hill Road in Greene. (Sun Journal file photo)
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