Maine Teen's Murder Case Made Confidential After Being Shared Online

Strategic Insights -

A 17-year-old from Frankfort was charged with murder in the death of 48-year-old Sunshine Stewart, who was found dead after going missing from a paddleboarding trip on Crawford Pond in Union. The case was previously publicly available on the state's high-profile cases webpage, but was taken down last month after a reporter inquired about why it was shared online. The teen's entire case is now confidential, but this could change if his case is moved to adult court, where the public would have access to the case records. The teen is currently being held at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland and will turn 18 in September.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 17-year-old from Frankfort was charged with murder in the death of 48-year-old Sunshine Stewart.
  • The case was previously publicly available on the state's high-profile cases webpage, but was taken down last month after a reporter inquired about why it was shared online.
  • The teen's entire case is now confidential, but this could change if his case is moved to adult court.
  • Prosecutors have filed a motion to charge the teen as an adult and a status conference was scheduled to be held on Friday.
  • The Police affidavits in the teen's case were sealed until after the status conference.
  • The teen is currently being held at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland and will turn 18 in September.
  • Under Maine law, if the teen is moved to an adult jail, he will need to be held in a facility designed for adult inmates.
  • The case was made confidential on August 14, according to a spokesperson for the Maine Judicial Branch.

Statistics:

  • 17: The age of the teenager charged with murder.
  • 48: The age of Sunshine Stewart, the woman found dead.
  • 2: Weeks after Stewart's death for which the 17-year-old was arrested.
  • 14: Date on which the case was made confidential.
  • 18: The age of the teenager when he will turn in September.
  • 1: Status conference scheduled to be held on Friday to determine if the case should be moved to adult court.

Sources:

  • "Maine Judicial Branch"
  • "Maine Attorney General's Office"
  • "Jeremy Pratt, Teen's Attorney"
  • "Maine Law"
  • "Portland Press Herald, www.pressherald.com"