Roberts faces possible new sentence in fatal Jefferson boat crash

Tue, 09/28/2021 - 11:45am

Jonathan D. Roberts, 47, of Waban, Massachusetts will appear at Lincoln County Courthouse Oct. 4 in a hearing to determine if a 2019 deferred disposition agreement will be revoked. Roberts pleaded guilty in 2019 to reckless operation of a watercraft in 2018. Camden’s Kristen McKellar died of injuries in a boat crash while she had been swimming in Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson. Roberts was arrested Aug. 5 on speeding and operating under the influence charges, according to penbaypilot.com

Charges of manslaughter and operating a watercraft at an imprudent speed were dismissed in 2019 and Roberts was granted a deferred disposition agreement requiring him to serve 100 hours of community service and pay a $400 fine. Violations of the agreement or of other laws before July 2022 put the charge of reckless operation of a watercraft – a Class D crime, which carries up to 364 days in jail and a fine between $200 and $2,000 – back on the table, according to penbaypilot.com

Roberts was stopped by a state trooper on I-95 in Kennebec County Aug. 5 when he was allegedly clocked at 99 mph in a 70 mph zone and a subsequent intoxilyzer test showed an alcohol level of .14 per 210L of breath. Roberts posted $1,000 bail the same day, penbaypilot.com said.

Assistant District Attorney Kent Murdick II filed motions Aug. 6 to hold Roberts in jail and revoke the agreement. Roberts turned himself in at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8. On Aug. 9, Murdick requested Lincoln County Superior Court revoke bail until the Oct. 4 hearing.

Lincoln County Court Justice Daniel Billings did not consider Roberts a substantial risk to the public and set a bail of $1,500 with the stipulation of no use of alcohol and that Roberts submit to random search and testing.

The hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at Lincoln County Courthouse, penbaypilot.com said.