Nine people were arrested after Somerset County sheriff’s detectives hit two Skowhegan homes with simultaneous drug search warrants just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, turning up more than 45 grams of suspected fentanyl, more than 20 grams of crack cocaine and a loaded .45-caliber pistol, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The warrants, executed at about 5:08 a.m. on Cedar Street and at 23 Waterville Road, Apartment 3, followed a months-long investigation into alleged drug sales at both addresses, according to the sheriff’s office. Five sheriff’s detectives, seven patrol deputies and four Waterville police detectives carried out the raids, the agency said.
At the Cedar Street residence of Gina Clark, 54, deputies found more than 20 grams of fentanyl, more than 20 grams of crack cocaine, the loaded handgun, drug-related documents and paraphernalia, the sheriff’s office said. Three people were arrested there:
- Gina Clark, 54, of Skowhegan — two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (Class A). The charges were elevated based on drug quantity and the presence of a firearm, the sheriff’s office said. Cash bail was set at $50,000 with conditions prohibiting illegal drug use or possession and requiring random searches and tests.
- Danielle Stratton, 40, of Belgrade — two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (Class A). Cash bail $100,000 with the same conditions, according to the sheriff’s office.
- Emmitt Kitchen, 32, of Skowhegan — two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (Class A) and an outstanding arrest warrant. Cash bail $100,000 with the same drug conditions, the sheriff’s office said.
At 23 Waterville Road, Apt. 3, the residence of Chauntel Ludden, 33, deputies seized more than 25 grams of fentanyl, a small amount of cocaine, and drug-related documents and paraphernalia, according to the sheriff’s office. Twelve people were found inside; the following were arrested or charged:
- Chauntel Ludden, 33, of Skowhegan — arrested on possession of scheduled drugs (Class C) and summonsed on aggravated trafficking in fentanyl; the trafficking count was aggravated based on drug quantity, the sheriff’s office said. Cash bail $50,000 with drug conditions.
- Michaela Higgins, 28, of Madison — violation of conditions of release (Class E). Held without bail. Higgins was out on bail on trafficking and furnishing charges at the time of the arrest, the sheriff’s office said.
- Tori Pinkham, 31, of Bingham — violation of conditions of release (Class E). Held without bail. Pinkham was out on bail for fentanyl possession tied to a July 3 Fairfield search warrant, the sheriff’s office said.
- Randell Woods, 40, of Madison — violation of conditions of release (Class E). Held without bail. Woods was out on bail for aggravated trafficking stemming from a Feb. 27 Norridgewock search warrant, according to the sheriff’s office.
- Jacob Day, 30, of Skowhegan — possession of a Schedule W drug with priors (Class C). Cash bail $2,500 with drug conditions, the sheriff’s office said.
- Aaron Butters, 37, of Skowhegan — possession of a Schedule W drug with priors (Class C). Cash bail $2,500 with drug conditions, the agency said.
Initial court appearances for those charged are set for Dec. 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in Somerset County Unified Criminal Court, according to the sheriff’s office. All nine remained at the Somerset County Jail on Tuesday, the agency said.
Additional charges may be filed after review by the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, the sheriff’s office said.
