By DARLA L. PICKETT
Staff Writer Monday, May 28, 2007

Marcel Redmond, who turns 19 next month, is charged with aggravated forgery, violation of conditions of release and failure to give a correct name and address to a law enforcement officer, according to Evert Fowle, district attorney for Somerset and Kennebec counties.

Redmond on Feb. 11 was behind the wheel of a 2000 Jeep Wrangler when it rolled over and struck a utility pole on Rome Road in Mercer. His passenger Jonathan P. McGrail, 16, of Skowhegan, died of his injuries several days later. Another teen-aged passenger and Redmond escaped injuries.

Fowle said that this past Sunday, Redmond was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by police in Bingham. Redmond is alleged to have been consuming alcohol, a violation of his conditions of release.

Fowle said Redmond first told officers he was "Christopher McGraw" with a birth date of June 2, 1988.

"Then he signed the bail form 'Christopher McGrail,'" Fowle said. "On that same day, he called Christopher McGrail (Jonathan's brother) and informed him he had used his name in a possible alcohol-related charge because he did not want to get into trouble."

Redmond was arrested Thursday after the brother reported the incident to police on Wednesday.

"I find that shocking, frankly, that somebody would do that who already was in a significant amount of trouble," Fowle said. "We are focusing on all aspects of this matter, including where Mr. Redmond got the liquor that was found in his system."

Fowle said Redmond is scheduled to be in court on his birthday, June 6, on a motion to revoke his bail on the manslaughter charge. Bail for the new charge has been set at $10,000 cash, he said.

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, Ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com