AUBURN – The trial for a Sabattus man accused of hitting and killing another man with a snowmobile in December 2002 will begin Monday morning.

Steven Davies, 36, faces charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and reckless conduct in the death of 59-year-old Robert Levesque.

Police say Levesque was walking on Sabattus Lake at about 9 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2002, when Davies struck him with his snowmobile. After the crash, police say, Davies drove away, leaving Levesque lying on the ice surrounded by broken snowmobile parts.

According to court documents, Davies was going about 70 mph and Levesque was wearing dark, non-reflective clothing. The state has no evidence that Davies was drunk at the time of the accident.

Seven men and seven women have been chosen to hear the case. They include 12 jurors and two alternates.

In most cases, manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In order to win a manslaughter conviction, the state must prove that Davies caused Levesque’s death by acting recklessly and negligently.

Aggravated assault and reckless conduct are less serious charges. Aggravated assault carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, and reckless conduct carries five.

Investigators questioned Davies at his house in Sabattus after finding a piece of broken windshield on the ice that showed the registration number of his snowmobile.

According to a police affidavit, Davies initially denied hitting Levesque. But, while looking around the house and yard, police found a fresh set of snowmobile tracks leading to a snowmobile in the woods and a fresh set of footprints going from the vehicle to the house.

The damage to the vehicle was consistent with the evidence found at the scene, police concluded.

It wasn’t until police presented Davies with the evidence that he admitted to panicking when he realized he had hit someone, police said. According to the affidavit, Davies told police that he went back to camp and asked his brother-in-law, Robert Cyr, to go check on the person.

When Cyr found Levesque, he put him on his snowmobile, drove to his house on the lake and called 911. But, police say, Cyr also called Davies and told him to drive his snowmobile home and get rid of it.

Cyr has been charged with two counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution. His case is still pending.

Davies’ trial is expected to last all week.

lchmelecki@sunjournal.com