Madison parents indicted in October crash that killed son, injured other children

SKOWHEGAN — A Madison couple were indicted recently on charges related to a fatal crash in October that resulted in the death of one of their children.

A Somerset County grand jury indicted Robert A. Simonds, 30, and Ashley A. Corson, 29, last week on charges of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated criminal operating under the influence, driving to endanger and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Simonds was also indicted on an additional charge of aggravated assault.

The crash occurred Oct. 27 in Madison, and Simonds was arrested in March, when sheriff’s investigators alleged in an arrest affidavit that he was driving under the influence of crack cocaine and marijuana when he “dozed off” and his pickup truck veered off the road in Madison.

The truck was traveling about 80 mph when it hit a tree, killing one of the couple’s sons and injuring other family members inside the vehicle, according to officials. The family was returning home after visiting friends in Hartland.

The grand jury also found Corson, the mother of the three children involved in the crash, was criminally liable.

Neither Simonds nor the children appeared to have been wearing seat belts when the crash occurred, but officials at the time said Keagan Simonds, 1, was in a child safety seat.

Maeghan Maloney, the district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties, said Wednesday that Corson was indicted because “charges can be brought against the person who does a criminal act and against a person for accomplice liability.”

Maloney said she could not provide more information on Corson’s and Simonds’ indictments until the couple’s trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 6 in Skowhegan.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but indicates enough evidence exists for a case to move forward to trial.

A Somerset County grand jury also indicted:

• Whitney Logan, 36, of Hartland, two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and three counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, Nov. 8, in Fairfield.

• Nicholas Hanson, 38, of Canaan, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, operating with a suspended registration and two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Feb. 19, in Skowhegan.

• Justin Mack, 23, of Skowhegan, domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Oct. 1; domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Dec. 15; domestic violence terrorizing, Jan. 28; in Skowhegan.

• Joseph Bradley, 43, of Benton, theft by unauthorized taking, Aug. 23, 2022, in Fairfield.

• Steven Crippen, 68, of Hinckley, theft by deception, Jan. 20, in Fairfield.

• Tyler Coture, 30, of Moscow, burglary and aggravated assault, May 29, 2022, in Bingham.

• Robert Graf Jr., 29, of Madison, aggravated unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs, criminal operating under the influence and two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Jan. 28, in Skowhegan.

• Milton Libby, 28, of Gardiner, four counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, driving to endanger, operating after suspension, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and violation of condition of release, May 3, in Skowhegan.

• Kenneth Salisbury, 36, no residence listed, burglary, criminal mischief and criminal trespass, Jan. 27; three counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Jan. 29, in Skowhegan.

• Charles Colby, 63, of Pittsfield, aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Dec. 3, in Pittsfield.

• Matthew Estes, 19, of Madison, gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact, Oct. 1, in Madison.

• Ernest Valladares, 42, of Portland, operating after revocation and violation of condition of release, March 26, 2022, in Norridgewock.

• Nicholas Carter, 29, of Fairfield, aggravated assault on Oct. 8, 2021, in Norridgewock.

• Johnney Haskell Jr., 37, of Anson, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, Sept. 17, in Skowhegan.

• Jessica Falvey, 48, of Pittsfield, burglary, violation of condition of release and two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, April 27, 2022, in Harmony.

• Caleb Roy, 30, of Burnham, theft by unauthorized taking, receiving stolen property and burglary of a motor vehicle, Dec. 12, in Pittsfield; theft by unauthorized taking, receiving stolen property and burglary of a motor vehicle, Dec. 14, in Pittsfield.

• Benjamin Therrien, 28, of Pittsfield, terrorizing, Feb. 7, in Pittsfield.

• Christopher Cowin, 44, of Bingham, burglary and aggravated assault, May 29, 2022, in Bingham.

• Margaret Cowin, 37, of Bingham, burglary and aggravated assault, May 29, 2022, in Bingham.