AUBURN — A Lewiston man who held police at bay at Morning Star Inn last week is being held without bail due to public safety concerns and pending his possible transfer to a secure alternative to jail.
Jeff Sewell stands with attorney James Howaniec during Sewell's appearance in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn on Tuesday.
Jeff Sewell, 43, who lived at Morning Star Inn on Lisbon Road, held police at bay for six hours last week before surrendering.
He was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and the civil violation of creating a police standoff.
A prosecutor said Tuesday that, despite an ongoing investigation, the state is unlikely to pursue the criminal threatening charge.
According to court documents, Sewell had an argument with another motel resident on Dec. 4 when a motel worker reported to police that Sewell went into his room with a loaded rifle.
The motel resident said he'd gotten a telephone call in his room from someone he suspected was Sewell. The man had called him a "bitch," and hung up, police said in a sworn statement.
The man said he left his room and walked to Sewell's room, where he observed him standing in front of his door, holding a rifle and loading it. Sewell then went into his room.
Police surrounded the room and tried calling the telephone in Sewell's room. Police used the public address system and sirens in an effort to gain Sewell's attention.
After several hours passed with no contact from Sewell, local police called in the Maine State Police Tactical Team.
Sewell's girlfriend told police he owned a shotgun.
Shortly before 1 a.m., Sewell surrendered to police.
Sewell lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, before living at the motel.
On Tuesday, he denied a charge he violated probation on a drunken-driving conviction from March.
AUBURN — A Lewiston man is being held without bail due to public safety concerns pending his possible transfer to a secure alternative to jail.
Jeff Sewell, 43, who lived at Morning Star Motel on Lisbon Road held police at bay for six hours last week before surrendering.
He was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and the a civil violation of creating a police standoff.
A prosecutor said Tuesday that, despite an ongoing investigation, the state is unlikely to pursue the criminal threatening charge.
According to court documents, Sewell had an argument with another motel resident on Dec. 4 when a motel worker reported to police that Sewell went into his room with a loaded rifle.
The motel resident said he'd gotten a telephone call in his room by someone he suspected was Sewell who called him a "Bitch," then hung up, police said in a sworn statement.
The man said he left his room and walked to Sewell's room where he observed him standing in front of his door holding a rifle and started to lead it. Sewell then went into his room.
Police surrounded the room and tried calling the telephone in Sewell's room. Police used the public address system and sirens in an effort to gain Sewell's attention.
After several hours passed with no contact from Sewell, local police called in the Maine State Police Tactical Team.
Sewell's girlfriend told police that he owned a shotgun.
Shortly before 1 a.m., Sewell surrendered to police.
Sewell lived in Corpus Christi, Texas before living at the motel.
On Tuesday, he denied a charge he violated probation on a drunken driving conviction from March .
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