Betty Jespersen
Blethen Maine News Service
Portland Press Herald
Copyright 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
FARMINGTON- A bullet fired by a Jay man at a Maine state trooper passed within inches of the officer’s head, a prosecutor said during William Burhoe’s initial court appearance Tuesday. Franklin County Assistant District Attorney James Andrews said when Burhoe fired the high powered rifle at Trooper Randall Keaten two weeks ago the shot came “very, very close to (his head) and would certainly have killed him if it had struck him.”
The trooper returned fire, hitting Burhoe in the leg.
Burhoe, 50, is charged with aggravated attempted murder in connection with the incident. That is a Class A crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Burhoe also is charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.
During Tuesday’s District Court hearing before Judge Ralph Tucker, Burhoe did not enter a plea. Tucker set bail at $300,000 cash or $600,000 worth of real estate. He also ordered Burhoe to undergo a psychiatric examination.
Andrews said he hopes Burhoe will be transferred from the Franklin County Jail to the forensic unit at the Riverview Psychiatric Hospital.
The incident began about 9:30 p.m. June 6, when several state police and Franklin County officers responded to a call from Jay police that shots had been fired during a domestic quarrel between Burhoe and his son, Christopher Hines, 23. The argument took place at 309 Macomber Hill Road, according to court documents.
Police saw Burhoe walking around the residence holding a gun and said he refused Trooper Scott Nichols’ repeated orders to put down his weapon, according to the affidavit prepared by state police Detective Richard Fowler.
At one point, police said, Burhoe lifted his weapon and aimed at a car that had appeared on a nearby road. Then, as a deputy sheriff parked his cruiser on the road to block traffic, Nichols said he saw Burhoe point his weapon at Franklin County Sheriff’s Cpl. Steve Charles.
“At this point, Nichols decided to use deadly force and was about to fire when Keaten appeared from Nichols’ left and ran toward the house, taking a position on the side of the residence,” the document said.
Keaten started to confront the man at a very close range and Burhoe allegedly leveled the weapon in the officer’s direction. Keaten rolled back against the house for cover as a shot was fired that was so close that wood particles landed on his uniform,” Fowler wrote. Keaten returned fire with his handgun.
On Monday, Burhoe was released from Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston into the custody of the state police, who brought him to Franklin County jail. A psychiatrist had recommended Burhoe be sent to a state psychiatric hospital, but no bed is available, Andrews said.
William Burhoe
June 14, 2006