Driver in 2022 Oxford chase and fiery crash gets new lawyer

PARIS — A judge has appointed a new lawyer to characterize a Woodstock person accused of leading police on a motor car or truck chase just about a 12 months back via southern Oxford County that left a Portland girl in significant situation.

Ethan Rioux-Poulios revealed right after he was arrested adhering to a law enforcement chase and crash before in March. Submitted picture

Verne Paradie, a felony defense attorney from Lewiston appointed by the court docket to signify Ethan Rioux-Poulios, 27, who is indigent, told Justice Harold Stewart II in Oxford County Remarkable Court on Tuesday that his consumer asked for his withdrawal.

“I do believe that the connection has irretrievably damaged down,” Paradie explained.

Stewart approved Paradie’s withdrawal and informed Rioux-Poulios he would appoint a new law firm to signify him.

But Stewart cautioned Rioux-Poulios that if he were being to check with all over again for a various court-appointed lawyer, Stewart may conclude the defendant is not equipped to function with any attorney supplied by the court.

Tuesday’s listening to was scheduled to hear arguments by prosecutors and the defense on irrespective of whether Rioux-Poulis’ probation should really be revoked.

He had been on probation final 12 months for a manslaughter conviction stemming from a 2019 deadly crash in West Paris in which the vehicle he was driving slammed into the back of a motor vehicle on condition Route 26 while fleeing from an Oxford County Sheriff’s Office deputy, killing a 70-yr-aged gentleman from Norway whose motor vehicle was propelled into a tree.

Rioux-Poulios fled from the scene and was later located at a home in South Paris.

He was sentenced July 2021 to seven many years in jail, with all of that time — other than two several years — suspended.

Unexpected emergency responders do the job on March 4, 2022, at the scene of a head-on crash on Oxford Road in Paris that still left a person driver critically hurt. 1 driver stole a car right after the crash and led law enforcement on a chase, officers say. Russ Dillingham/Solar Journal

If prosecutors are prosperous in revoking his probation, he could be ordered to provide some or all of the suspended part of that sentence, or up to five a long time.

Stewart requested Rioux-Poulios go on to be held devoid of bail even though a new attorney is assigned to depict him and a new listening to day is scheduled on the probation revocation motion.

In March 2022, law enforcement mentioned Rioux-Poulios led them on a chase in the early night following he was reported to have pushed a pickup truck erratically, hanging other automobiles on Route 26 in Oxford.

He reportedly turned on to Oxford Road the place he ongoing to go unsafely then missing management of the truck and slammed into a Ford Escape, leading to it to go off the highway and into trees.

The driver, Nicole Kumiega, 28, of Portland had to be extricated from her motor vehicle and flown by helicopter to Maine Healthcare Centre in Portland, wherever she was detailed in crucial affliction.

Rioux-Poulios, whose truck burst into flames in the crash, fled the scene into nearby woods, stole a car or truck, and drove towards Norway, authorities mentioned.

He led Maine Point out Police on a superior-speed chase from Otisfield to Norway, then Oxford, passing very long traces of vehicles dangerously, authorities reported.

He was taken into custody following a point out trooper’s cruiser was capable to nudge the car driven by Rioux-Poulios off point out Route 121 in Oxford, authorities reported.

He was indicted in May perhaps 2022 by an Oxford County grand jury on nine felonies and a few misdemeanors.

The felonies incorporate a few counts of aggravated assault, each individual punishable by up to 30 many years in jail, in addition 3 counts of reckless perform with a risky weapon, each and every punishable by up to five decades in prison, and eluding an officer, driving to endanger, and leaving the scene of an accident involving major bodily damage or loss of life, also punishable by up to five decades in jail. The misdemeanors were being a few counts of driving to endanger.