AUGUSTA — A Searsport man has been indicted by a Kennebec County grand jury on two counts of attempted murder for allegedly firing a handgun into a vehicle in Winslow with the intent to cause the deaths of his former girlfriend and her friend.
Steven G. Pratt, 39, was indicted on a total of nine counts associated with the Oct. 21 incident, including two counts of Class A felony attempted elevated aggravated assault, domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, reckless conduct with a firearm, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and criminal mischief.
Pratt turned himself in peacefully to authorities Oct. 22 at the Irving Circle K truck stop on Center Road in Fairfield. The shooting had occurred at 9 p.m. the day before on China Road in Winslow, police said.
A long-haul trucker, Pratt was driving his personal pickup truck when the shooting occurred, and the long-haul truck he drives was parked at the truck stop in Fairfield, Winslow police Lt. Brad Hubert said at the time. Police issued a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Pratt and his vehicle and they also issued a temporary warrant because they couldn’t find him, Hubert said. Police were aware Pratt’s tractor-trailer was parked at the truck stop and kept checking the area, he said.
Pratt drove around in his pickup after the shooting and eventually drove to the Fairfield truck stop, got out of his vehicle and got into his tractor-trailer, according to Hubert.
Fairfield police worked with officers from the Winslow and Waterville police departments, as well as Maine State Police, to secure the rear parking lot and set up a perimeter around the Circle K. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the incident and spoke with Pratt, who was turned over to Winslow police after he surrendered.
Pratt was taken to the Kennebec County jail in Augusta and held without bail.
The attempted elevated aggravated assault charges in the grand jury indictment allege Pratt attempted to cause serious bodily injury with the use of a dangerous weapon by firing at the two women.
The domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon charge alleges he created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to his ex-girlfriend, considered a household member as defined by law, with use of a firearm.
The reckless conduct with a firearm charge alleges he created substantial risk of serious bodily injury to the woman’s friend, with use of a firearm; the domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon charge alleges he intentionally or knowingly placed his ex-girlfriend in fear of imminent bodily injury, with use of a dangerous weapon.
The criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon charge alleges he intentionally or knowingly placed one of the woman in fear of imminent bodily injury, with use of a firearm, and the criminal mischief count alleges he intentionally or knowingly or recklessly, damaged or destroyed a vehicle that was the property of one of the women.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt but indicates enough evidence exists for a case to proceed to trial.
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